On one machine I tried, help('modules') actually worked successfully with no substantial delays or apparent side effects.

On another, it apparently tried to set up an MPI cluster:

  *** The MPI_Init() function was called before MPI_INIT was invoked.
  *** This is disallowed by the MPI standard.
  *** Your MPI job will now abort.
  [hostname:14114] Abort before MPI_INIT completed successfully; not 
  able to guarantee that all other processes were killed!

On a third, I get the following and then it just hangs:

  Python 2.7.6 (default, Mar 22 2014, 15:40:47)
  [GCC 4.8.2] on linux2
  Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
  >>> help('modules')
  
  Please wait a moment while I gather a list of all available modules...

  /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/gobject/constants.py:24: Warning: g_boxed_type_register_static: assertion 'g_type_from_name (name) == 0' failed
    import gobject._gobject
  /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/gi/module.py:171: Warning: cannot register existing type 'GtkWidget'
    g_type = info.get_g_type()
  /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/gi/module.py:171: Warning: cannot add class private field to invalid type '<invalid>'
    g_type = info.get_g_type()
  /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/gi/module.py:171: Warning: cannot add private field to invalid (non-instantiatable) type '<invalid>'
    g_type = info.get_g_type()
  /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/gi/module.py:171: Warning: g_type_add_interface_static: assertion 'G_TYPE_IS_INSTANTIATABLE (instance_type)' failed
    g_type = info.get_g_type()
  /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/gi/module.py:171: Warning: cannot register existing type 'GtkBuildable'
    g_type = info.get_g_type()
  /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/gi/module.py:171: Warning: g_type_interface_add_prerequisite: assertion 'G_TYPE_IS_INTERFACE (interface_type)' failed
    g_type = info.get_g_type()
  /usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/gi/module.py:171: Warning: g_once_init_leave: assertion 'result != 0' failed
    g_type = info.get_g_type()