Census and trust
Discussion
I’m really struggling to fill out the census form - it feels intrusive and unnecessary.
I don’t remember having this much of a negative reaction to doing it last time, so something has clearly changed in my trust in the system and willingness to give out data.
Anyone else feel the same, or should I just adjust my tinfoil hat to a more jaunty angle and get on with the day?
I don’t remember having this much of a negative reaction to doing it last time, so something has clearly changed in my trust in the system and willingness to give out data.
Anyone else feel the same, or should I just adjust my tinfoil hat to a more jaunty angle and get on with the day?
LeftmostAardvark said:
I’m really struggling to fill out the census form - it feels intrusive and unnecessary.
I don’t remember having this much of a negative reaction to doing it last time, so something has clearly changed in my trust in the system and willingness to give out data.
Anyone else feel the same, or should I just adjust my tinfoil hat to a more jaunty angle and get on with the day?
The latter.I don’t remember having this much of a negative reaction to doing it last time, so something has clearly changed in my trust in the system and willingness to give out data.
Anyone else feel the same, or should I just adjust my tinfoil hat to a more jaunty angle and get on with the day?
lufbramatt said:
Do you use Facebook, google etc? If yes, I wouldn’t worry about a few census questions!
I think my reason for starting the topic was more because of the much more negative reaction I had when filling it in - last time it didn’t seem intrusive / suspicious, this time it felt counter to common sense.Cold said:
Make sure you aren't getting anxious about questions which are voluntary to answer (sexual orientation etc). And also, you'll be long dead by the time any organisation or member of the public can view your answers, because they're coming for you tonight.
Just finishing that final sentence properly.Happy Paranoid Saturday, everyone. Enjoy it, because it may well be your last.
ATG said:
Just finishing that final sentence properly.
Happy Paranoid Saturday, everyone. Enjoy it, because it may well be your last.
The point I was (badly) trying to make is that, since the last census (2011?), the caution that people are being trained to take around online data has changed massively. I didn’t trust the government then either, I guess, but in those ten years the importance of keeping your personal data protected has become a massive topic in the way that it wasn’t last time.Happy Paranoid Saturday, everyone. Enjoy it, because it may well be your last.
LeftmostAardvark said:
The point I was (badly) trying to make is that, since the last census (2011?), the caution that people are being trained to take around online data has changed massively. I didn’t trust the government then either, I guess, but in those ten years the importance of keeping your personal data protected has become a massive topic in the way that it wasn’t last time.
You raise an interesting point but we'll just need to trust them here - key stuff they have in the various agencies - DVLA/passport - anyway. Which questions are you finding troublesome?
I see there are campaigns to be honest about religion - i.e. say atheist if you are one; don't be tempted to just tick "christian" etc. just because you went to a CofE primary school etc. and some how feel obliged. This seems like a good idea; it will be interesting to see the trend (I suspect there will be a rise in the number declaring atheist - question is will it be a jump in 10 yrs).
LeftmostAardvark said:
The point I was (badly) trying to make is that, since the last census (2011?), the caution that people are being trained to take around online data has changed massively. I didn’t trust the government then either, I guess, but in those ten years the importance of keeping your personal data protected has become a massive topic in the way that it wasn’t last time.
I do agree with your sentiment about it feeling intrusive to be honest and think you make a good point about people’s attitude to data and safety of personal information.I have filled it in (accurately) but somewhat reluctantly and feel it should all be optional. Also have a niggling cynicism about how securely the information is held.
Mentioned it to my other half and she reminded me that it’ll all come in useful to improve services/regional investment etc so can see the merit to doing it I suppose.
Harrison Bergeron said:
lufbramatt said:
Do you use Facebook, google etc? If yes, I wouldn’t worry about a few census questions!
But none of it is under my real name and I’ve got multiple accounts each one for a separate service(ie YouTube , gmail , etc)DeepEnd said:
LeftmostAardvark said:
The point I was (badly) trying to make is that, since the last census (2011?), the caution that people are being trained to take around online data has changed massively. I didn’t trust the government then either, I guess, but in those ten years the importance of keeping your personal data protected has become a massive topic in the way that it wasn’t last time.
You raise an interesting point but we'll just need to trust them here - key stuff they have in the various agencies - DVLA/passport - anyway. Which questions are you finding troublesome?
I see there are campaigns to be honest about religion - i.e. say atheist if you are one; don't be tempted to just tick "christian" etc. just because you went to a CofE primary school etc. and some how feel obliged. This seems like a good idea; it will be interesting to see the trend (I suspect there will be a rise in the number declaring atheist - question is will it be a jump in 10 yrs).
Religious upbringing doesn’t directly correlate with political beliefs here as much as some would have you think but there are many vested interests who rely on a simplified sectarian division and they’ll use the census figures to promote that.
By coincidence I just filled it in and then logged onto PH for some light relief and found this thread.
Like you OP I found it intrusive and uncomfortbale but I did it anyway on the basis that it's supposed to be confidential.
I am sure my feelings about it are heavily coloured by what the Governement has done over the last 12 months and how they have behaved over things such as personal liberty.
By the same token they have also shown their utter ineptitude and so I am less concerned they would have the gumption to do anything useful with the data let alone anything malevolent.
Much of it will doubtless be used to tell us about the ethnic make up of the country, how people 'identify' gender wise and how many are homosexual or unsure. Less about trifling matters like infrastructure, energy security and planning for the next pandemic I suspect.
Like you OP I found it intrusive and uncomfortbale but I did it anyway on the basis that it's supposed to be confidential.
I am sure my feelings about it are heavily coloured by what the Governement has done over the last 12 months and how they have behaved over things such as personal liberty.
By the same token they have also shown their utter ineptitude and so I am less concerned they would have the gumption to do anything useful with the data let alone anything malevolent.
Much of it will doubtless be used to tell us about the ethnic make up of the country, how people 'identify' gender wise and how many are homosexual or unsure. Less about trifling matters like infrastructure, energy security and planning for the next pandemic I suspect.
This thread caught my eye, after having just completed it myself.
I'm not in the slightest bit troubled by it: indeed it makes me think how forward thinking it is to periodically collect information like this for research and analysis purposes.
My parents, who are into genealogy quite a lot, also really appreciate the census as a way of getting historic information.
I work in local government, and have seen how services can suffer when a large influx of population doesn't correlate with out of date population data used for funding.
I bet Google could probably do a pretty decent job of the census just by mining data. And a host of survey companies can get the results they want by slanting questions appropriately.
The government by contrast are being completely open about what they're doing, and as a bonus I don't even have to travel to the city of my birth and sleep in a stable!
I'm not in the slightest bit troubled by it: indeed it makes me think how forward thinking it is to periodically collect information like this for research and analysis purposes.
My parents, who are into genealogy quite a lot, also really appreciate the census as a way of getting historic information.
I work in local government, and have seen how services can suffer when a large influx of population doesn't correlate with out of date population data used for funding.
I bet Google could probably do a pretty decent job of the census just by mining data. And a host of survey companies can get the results they want by slanting questions appropriately.
The government by contrast are being completely open about what they're doing, and as a bonus I don't even have to travel to the city of my birth and sleep in a stable!
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