List-type attributes and name strings

[egbert]

Normally you use setattr() if the name of the attribute is in a
namestring: 
>>>> setattr(self, namestring, value)
But my attributes are lists or dictionaries, and I don't seem to be
able to use setattr anymore.
Now I use for a list something like:
>>> self.__dict__[namestring].append(value)
and for a dictionary:
>>> self.__dict__[namestring][keystring]=value
But I have the impression that I am cheating, because users should not
operate on __dict__ directly.
Is that true ? And are there better solutions ?
egbert
-- 
Egbert Bouwman - Keizersgracht 197 II - 1016 DS  Amsterdam - 020 6257991
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