Python why wont this work? (using or in if statements)

[richodude]

total = 3

def function():
    global total
    if total == 1 or 2:
        print(total)
        print("I'm a function that lets you know that your number is 1 or 2!")
    else:
        print("This is to let you know your number ISNT 1 or 2!")
        
def function_quotes():
    global total
    if total == "1" or "2":
        print(total)
        print("I'm a function that lets you know that your number is 1 or 2!")
    else:
        print("This is to let you know your number ISNT 1 or 2!")
            
function()
function_quotes()

obviously the expected result is for the code to skip the if lines entirely

 

[menator01]

Should be
If total == 1 or total == 2
This will test if 1 or 2 is true. If it's false then the else will execute.
On a side note, it is generally bad practice to use global.

total = 3 #This is already a global and can be accessed in the function

def func():
    print(total)
func()

or you could do something like

def func(arg):
    numbers = [1,2,5,9]
    if arg in numbers:
        print(f'{arg} is accepted.')
    else:
        print(f'{arg} is not accepted')

for i in range(10):
    func(i)

output

0 is not accepted
1 is accepted
2 is accepted
3 is not accepted
4 is not accepted
5 is accepted
6 is not accepted
7 is not accepted
8 is not accepted
9 is accepted