[recursive]

If you're used to python, you wouldn't consider it to be a trick.

If you're giving interviews, and evaluating code in a language you don't know, don't be so confident it's wrong. Ask the candidate how it works.

[ball_of_lint]

I've used python for ~2y now and I'd balk at and rewrite this statement, considering it unclear at best.

[recursive]

That's an entirely reasonable point of view.

The important part here is that there are a substantial fraction of python developers that don't share your sentiment.

[nerdponx]

In this case the candidate also didn't know.