Senses About The Census

[lupestripe]

Last night I filled in my first census as my dad mysteriously did it for me ten years ago when I was still a dependent living in his house. It only took ten minutes and I have had more personal questions asked about me by my bank.

I don't understand the cynicism over the census. By filling it in you are contributing to a great British tradition of nearly 200 years which is an intrinsic part of the society in which we live. I look at the census as an historical document as previous ones have been extremely useful for historical research. In this age of mass media this importance may be diminished but I still think it's there as it provides useful information as to how society is constructed. Some say the government already know this but there's something to be said for having all this knowledge in the same place.

I can understand some of the cynicism - people are suspicious of governments and don't like being told what to do. I am also unsure as to whether it will form a massive part of government policy in our current age of reactionary newspapers and rolling news. But this isn't a party political thing so for the sake of ten minutes I think it's a citizen's duty to contribute to the tapestry of this nation. Which is an odd statement coming from me.

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Comments

[silent-o.livejournal.com]

They bitch about the census over here too.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

When do you have to do yours? And how often?

[silent-o.livejournal.com]

Every ten years, and the time of year varies.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Census

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Cools, thanks for informing me ^^

[rustyfox.livejournal.com]

Snap - I filled in mine too (then realised I could have done it online!)

I was also stunned by how little they wanted to know about any one person. I don't get the fuss over the religion question either, I'm quite happy to tick 'no religion', but if I was really bothered, I could just write atheist. Maybe I'm missing the whole point of that argument.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

I was quite surprised too, I thought it would be far more in-depth. I don't understand the fuss over the religion question either but then I am not too touchy about these things as I am neither a religious zealot or a militant atheist. I am just not that fussed.

[wruf.livejournal.com]

As an amateur genealogist I find the census to be the no.1 source of information. It's a fantastic document and I'll be more than happy to fill it in.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

I was thinking about genealogy when I was writing this. I have used the census for other historical research too - it is an extremely useful document to have at your disposal.

[slinkat.livejournal.com]

As I said in another post on the subject, the only thing in there the powers that be don't currently know about me is religious belief (or lack of), and that's voluntary. Supermarket loyalty schemes and Google will know more about you. I've noticed a few posters in cars saying "If you're not religious, for God's sake say so" in relation to the census. Assuming that's the BHA, as it's the same font as their bus ads from a while back.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Facebook is far more insidious too as are, like you say, Google and supermarket loyalty schemes. I guess it's something about voluntarily presenting your information rather than being forced to. Either that or people are hypocrites.

Yep, I think it is from the BHA. They annoy me. Combating religious fundamentalism with athiest zealotry makes them both as bad as each other if you ask me. It's also reason why I can't take Richard Dawkins seriously.

[darkone238.livejournal.com]

I agree with you (although I'm in the states). I don't see why people would whine about it except that people seem to want to whine about everything the government does, regardless of what it is or knowing anything about it.

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Yep, we have a lot of those here. Having said that, I live in a country where moaning is a national pass-time.

[darkone238.livejournal.com]

That might be a worldwide thing. Moaning seems to be a part of human nature that cannot be suppressed :P

[lupestripe.livejournal.com]

Ooh we Brits have made it into an artform.