--- a/Doc/lib/libuser.tex	Tue Dec 30 22:51:32 2003 +0000
+++ b/Doc/lib/libuser.tex	Tue Dec 30 23:01:19 2003 +0000
@@ -48,12 +48,14 @@
 
 \begin{verbatim}
 import user
-try:
-    verbose = user.spam_verbose  # user's verbosity preference
-except AttributeError:
-    verbose = 0                  # default verbosity
+
+verbose = bool(getattr(user, "spam_verbose", 0))
 \end{verbatim}
 
+(The three-argument form of \function{getattr()} is used in case
+the user has not defined \code{spam_verbose} in their
+\file{.pythonrc.py} file.)
+
 Programs with extensive customization needs are better off reading a
 program-specific customization file.