Problem with List() Inside Function

Is the following from Patrick Burns another pearl for the fortunes package?

-- Bert Gunter


*****************************

 My solution when I run into mysteries like this
 is to put
 
 browser()
 
 in the function just before or after the line of interest.
 The magnitude and direction of my stupidity usually
 become clear quickly.
 
 Patrick Burns
 patrick at burns-stat.com
 +44 (0)20 8525 0696
 http://www.burns-stat.com
 (home of S Poetry and "A Guide for the Unwilling S User")