census,2011
Aug 1st 2011 | 5:25 pm
#46
...giving optimism a go?!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,202
From: Brisbane (leafy, hilly western suburbs)
Re: census,2011
If a group of 10 people respond as follows:
2 - CHRISTIAN
1 - NO RELIGION
7 - INVALID RESPONSE (Jedi, Pastafarian etc etc)
Then the invalid responses are ignored and the results interpretted as:
66% - Christian
33% - No Religion
Whereas if 6 of those 7 no responses were in fact non-believers playing silly-buggers (and 1 christian who simply cant mark the paper properly) the results **should** be:
70% - No Religion
30% - Christian
Obviously in this case the numbers are massively exagerated to make the point - but by being non-counted (and the noncounts being predominatly from non-religious) the secular nature of society is massively understated - leading politicians to believe we are a far more religious society than in fact we are.
Last edited by DadAgain; Aug 1st 2011 at 5:41 pm.
Aug 1st 2011 | 5:33 pm
#48
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 15,111
From: Semi-rural wonderworld, Brisbane
Re: census,2011
Unless you want to be overrun by yet more christian motivated establishment and validate the position of filling state schools with religiously motivated non-teaching staff I'd urge you to please put "No Religion" if that is a true reflection of your family.
"Jedi" or "Pastafarian" may seem like a good joke - but in the end you just end up boosting the %ge of society that are declared "Christian" (A percentage that I'd argue is massively over-stated in the first place simply because people put it down without actually thinking about whether they *really* are practicing that religion - but because thats what they 'used' to be when they were growing up)...
The statistical processing applies a strong bias to understate the level of "No-Religion" in society. This overstates the case for us being a religiously motivated society and sends the incorrect message on a whole raft of potential policy discussion such as R18+ Video game ratinds, Gay Marriage, Religious Instruction in school - letting the religious folk be far more influential than some of us believe is reasonable.
http://www.censusnoreligion.org/
"Jedi" or "Pastafarian" may seem like a good joke - but in the end you just end up boosting the %ge of society that are declared "Christian" (A percentage that I'd argue is massively over-stated in the first place simply because people put it down without actually thinking about whether they *really* are practicing that religion - but because thats what they 'used' to be when they were growing up)...
The statistical processing applies a strong bias to understate the level of "No-Religion" in society. This overstates the case for us being a religiously motivated society and sends the incorrect message on a whole raft of potential policy discussion such as R18+ Video game ratinds, Gay Marriage, Religious Instruction in school - letting the religious folk be far more influential than some of us believe is reasonable.
http://www.censusnoreligion.org/
Aug 1st 2011 | 5:39 pm
#49
has lost The Game
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,735
From: Chippendale, Sydney
Re: census,2011
Yeah, I agree. I am of the opinion that the questions here are just a little too intrusive - I agree with your comment about mother's maiden name previously.
Somebody said that they do fine you if you don't complete it, but I can't find any evidence to support that position.
S
Aug 1st 2011 | 5:54 pm
#50
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: census,2011
Yeah, I agree. I am of the opinion that the questions here are just a little too intrusive - I agree with your comment about mother's maiden name previously.
Somebody said that they do fine you if you don't complete it, but I can't find any evidence to support that position.
S
Somebody said that they do fine you if you don't complete it, but I can't find any evidence to support that position.
S
The ABS has the power to direct an individual, in writing, to complete a form (at s.10) or answer a question (at s.11) of the Census and Statistics Act. The individual is then legally obliged to do so. If an individual is prosecuted and convicted for not providing the information required, they can be fined up to $100 per day for each day they fail to provide the information, after the deadline specified in the written direction, until the required information is provided. From the ABS website.
Aug 1st 2011 | 6:02 pm
#51
Auntie Fa
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,344
From: Seattle
Re: census,2011
First time I've filled one in while unemployed - wonder if they try to put me on any return to work courses?
Maybe I should have lied.
Maybe I should have lied.
Aug 1st 2011 | 6:28 pm
#52
has lost The Game
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,735
From: Chippendale, Sydney
Re: census,2011
had a skim through the questions.
There's quite a lot arent there. If they just added mothers maiden name, then they've got all the ingredients for some identity fraud shenanigans, haven't they.
In this Australian democracy, will they also fine me for not completing it - like the compulsory voting?
There's quite a lot arent there. If they just added mothers maiden name, then they've got all the ingredients for some identity fraud shenanigans, haven't they.
In this Australian democracy, will they also fine me for not completing it - like the compulsory voting?
Just did mine. I went with my age last birthday, instead of disclosing my DOB. And went No religion too
S
Aug 1st 2011 | 7:20 pm
#53
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 224
Re: census,2011
I'm afraid I have issues with this census. I don't know if that classes me as a civil libertarian or something but I feel like putting "NONE OF YOUR F*%King BUSINESS" across the whole thing.
How much I earn is between me and my employer. Nobody else has any right to that information. Where I am on a given night? Again, I did not notice the start of WW3 and having to carry your papers and a curfew.
The front of the form says something like "your cooperation is appreciated in completing this form"
It's in the bin now so we'll see what happens. I have no doubts whatsoever that any information I gave would NOT be used to my benefit.
How much I earn is between me and my employer. Nobody else has any right to that information. Where I am on a given night? Again, I did not notice the start of WW3 and having to carry your papers and a curfew.
The front of the form says something like "your cooperation is appreciated in completing this form"
It's in the bin now so we'll see what happens. I have no doubts whatsoever that any information I gave would NOT be used to my benefit.
Aug 1st 2011 | 7:28 pm
#54
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 224
Re: census,2011
$1100 fine for deliberately providing false information on a census. From Here
This is what I mean. I don't even trust these people not to let all the info leak somewhere. I've already had my house remortgaged under my own nose by someone who stole my identity and credit rating in the UK, took over 3 years to sort out.
It feels like big brother. Unless I am accused of some sort of crime what right does anyone have to demand I state where I was on a given night.
This is what I mean. I don't even trust these people not to let all the info leak somewhere. I've already had my house remortgaged under my own nose by someone who stole my identity and credit rating in the UK, took over 3 years to sort out.
It feels like big brother. Unless I am accused of some sort of crime what right does anyone have to demand I state where I was on a given night.
Aug 1st 2011 | 7:34 pm
#55
has lost The Game
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,735
From: Chippendale, Sydney
Re: census,2011
I'm afraid I have issues with this census. I don't know if that classes me as a civil libertarian or something but I feel like putting "NONE OF YOUR F*%King BUSINESS" across the whole thing.
How much I earn is between me and my employer. Nobody else has any right to that information. Where I am on a given night? Again, I did not notice the start of WW3 and having to carry your papers and a curfew.
The front of the form says something like "your cooperation is appreciated in completing this form"
It's in the bin now so we'll see what happens. I have no doubts whatsoever that any information I gave would NOT be used to my benefit.
How much I earn is between me and my employer. Nobody else has any right to that information. Where I am on a given night? Again, I did not notice the start of WW3 and having to carry your papers and a curfew.
The front of the form says something like "your cooperation is appreciated in completing this form"
It's in the bin now so we'll see what happens. I have no doubts whatsoever that any information I gave would NOT be used to my benefit.
I thought that about the 'how much do you earn' question. Doesn't the tax office have this data already?
And why were the bands so narrow below $104k, and who cares above that?
S
Aug 1st 2011 | 7:40 pm
#56
has lost The Game
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,735
From: Chippendale, Sydney
Re: census,2011
$1100 fine for deliberately providing false information on a census. From Here
This is what I mean. I don't even trust these people not to let all the info leak somewhere. I've already had my house remortgaged under my own nose by someone who stole my identity and credit rating in the UK, took over 3 years to sort out.
It feels like big brother. Unless I am accused of some sort of crime what right does anyone have to demand I state where I was on a given night.
This is what I mean. I don't even trust these people not to let all the info leak somewhere. I've already had my house remortgaged under my own nose by someone who stole my identity and credit rating in the UK, took over 3 years to sort out.
It feels like big brother. Unless I am accused of some sort of crime what right does anyone have to demand I state where I was on a given night.
And what happens, now that I have submitted it, if I go out and pick up some hot chick and take her back to mine? Do I have to obtain all of her details for the census entry? That could be a real passion killer...
Or worse, I go back to hers, so I haven't spent the night at mine, have I effectively lied on the census?
Jeez the ramifications are immense!
Maybe I had better play it safe tonight and say "Not tonight love - It's the census - better play it safe and head home separately..."
S
Aug 1st 2011 | 7:51 pm
#57
Mostly Harmless
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 15,111
From: Semi-rural wonderworld, Brisbane
Re: census,2011
And what happens, now that I have submitted it, if I go out and pick up some hot chick and take her back to mine? Do I have to obtain all of her details for the census entry? That could be a real passion killer...
Or worse, I go back to hers, so I haven't spent the night at mine, have I effectively lied on the census?
Jeez the ramifications are immense!
Maybe I had better play it safe tonight and say "Not tonight love - It's the census - better play it safe and head home separately..."
S
Or worse, I go back to hers, so I haven't spent the night at mine, have I effectively lied on the census?
Jeez the ramifications are immense!
Maybe I had better play it safe tonight and say "Not tonight love - It's the census - better play it safe and head home separately..."
S
Aug 1st 2011 | 8:07 pm
#58
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 1,612
From: Canada->WA->Melbourne
Re: census,2011
I don't recall the last Canadian one we did asking as many questions, but then they'd often do the short form/long form one and if you got the short form, it was basically a head count and that's it.
There's definitely some info that I feel they don't NEED to know.
Aug 1st 2011 | 8:17 pm
#59
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 224
Re: census,2011
I'm sick of being "profiled" and then subsequently targeted. Use your credit card to buy petrol and groceries? They collect all that info so that they know that Brisneyland uses diesel, isn't a vegetarian, can cook, is borderline OCD on cleanliness, etc etc and this info is sold to 3rd parties who then target you by mail and email and phone.
I put a fair bit of effort into being off-grid, pay by cash, don't have a nectar card, flyby's etc
And now they want name rank and serial number, so that they can work out that the average salary in Enoggera is $xxx and therefore is an area of interest to supermarkets A and B but not C.
I put a fair bit of effort into being off-grid, pay by cash, don't have a nectar card, flyby's etc
And now they want name rank and serial number, so that they can work out that the average salary in Enoggera is $xxx and therefore is an area of interest to supermarkets A and B but not C.
Aug 1st 2011 | 8:33 pm
#60
Rhino with a big horn!
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,117
Re: census,2011
had a skim through the questions.
There's quite a lot arent there. If they just added mothers maiden name, then they've got all the ingredients for some identity fraud shenanigans, haven't they.
In this Australian democracy, will they also fine me for not completing it - like the compulsory voting?
There's quite a lot arent there. If they just added mothers maiden name, then they've got all the ingredients for some identity fraud shenanigans, haven't they.
In this Australian democracy, will they also fine me for not completing it - like the compulsory voting?
