Can __init__ not return an object?

[Steven W. Orr]

When I go to create an object I want to be able to decide whether the 
object is valid or not in __init__, and if not, I want the constructor to 
return something other than an object, (like maybe None). I seem to be 
having problems. At the end of __init__ I say (something like)

 	if self.something < minvalue:
 	    del self
 	    return None

and it doesn't work. I first tried just the return None, then I got crafty 
and tried the del self. Is what I'm trying to do possible in the 
constructor or do I have to check after I return? Or would raising an 
exception in the constructor be appropriate?

Am I even being clear?

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steveo at syslang.net