If you hate python, just write whatever your hearts desires. There is no use in saying "oh python does not let me know when a variable I expect to be list is string", well yes, it is a dynamically typed language, please learn the difference between dynamically and statically typed languages before hating on any language. As a bonus, you can check if a value is list or string and throw your own error, python is versatile, although it probably would be an antipattern and you should go back to writing C. If you love the good old days of Fortran, then I am sure many Financial Institutions and Aerospace industry or old school mathematicians would love to have you.