Python docs disappointing

[kj]

I'm pretty new to Python, and I like a lot overall, but I find the
documentation for Python rather poor, overall.

I'm sure that Python experts don't have this problem: they have
internalized some good ways to access the documentation, are
productive with it, and therefore have lost the ability to see why
the Python documentations is deficient for beginners.  This explains
why a suboptimal situation can persist like this: those who are
most able fix it are also the least able to perceive it.

I've heard similar complaints from other experienced programmers
who are trying out Python for the first time: poor documentation.

Here is an *entirely typical* example: on some Unix, try

% pydoc urllib

The displayed documentation mention the optional parameter "data"
in practically every function listed (a few dozen of them).  This
parameter is not documented *anywhere* on that page.  All that we
are told is that its default value is always None.

I'm sure that I can find a full description of this parameter if
I fire up Google, and search online.  In fact, more likely than
not, I'll find far more documentation than I want.  But my point
is that a programmer should not need to do this.  The full
documentation should be readily accessible directly through a few
keystrokes.

I would love to know how experienced Python programmers quickly
zero in on the Python documentation they need.

TIA!

kynn