Be nice to a Census Worker

[Kyle Hyde]

I recently started working for the census as a door to door enumerator for the addresses where people had not turned in their questionnaire. I can' believe how rude people are. Also, there are a lot of people who are angry with some of the questions and take it out on us. I can't do anything about it, so don't act like I can.

Let me say, that I personally think that the census should ONLY ask how many people are live at a particular address and maybe age. I'm a libertarian and actually had to make a touch decision if it was morally acceptable for me to take this job (I need the money so that won out).

The Census is important and it's been going on every 10 years since 1790. Instead of getting angry when a worker knocks on your door, or ignoring him, or refusing, just politely answer the questions you don't object to and politely refuse those that you do. Then you can write your angry letter to your Congressman, or to the newspaper. The guy at the door is probably just some recently unemployed worker who wants to be at your door as much as you want him there. Parts of the Census actually do serve a legitimate purpose.

Sorry for my rant; I just got back from a terrible day walking around and needed to vent. I'm also interested in anyone's experience with the Census.

 

[mr_economy]

Given that it's a constitutionally mandated process, I've been tickled at the tea-party paranoia surrounding this year's census. I also considered applying to be a census worker as a second job, but decided against it at the last minute. I'll certainly be civil to any census worker who comes by to ask follow-up questions. As for my experience with this year's census, it took me all of about 5 minutes to answer my part of the questions - no hassle at all.

 

[dpm802]

I looked into being a census worker, but I couldn't fit in a moonlighting job with my current schedule. Besides, in my area, the census wasn't paying all that well, since the pay-scale is regional.

I had a friend who went through the whole application process. He went through it several times, actually, since he applied to each office in his metro-area. Despite pegging the needle on their aptitude test, and making himself available to them 24/7, any shift, he never got the call.

The basic concept of head-counting doesn't bother me. I don't even mind when they ask for age, but when they wanted my date of birth, I thought that was being a bit nosey.

The question that really pisses me off is when the government asks for my race. I don't see why they need this information.

A typical argument over this topic usually goes something like this:

Civil Servant: "What is your race?"
Me: "I'd rather not answer that question. Can you leave it blank?"
CS: "No. You have to answer. What is your race?"
Me: "I'm offended by the question. Can you put that down?"
CS: "No. You have to answer. Don't worry, it doesn't matter what you put down."
Me: "If it doesn't matter what I answer ... why do you ask the question?"
CS: "I don't know. Its on the form. We have to fill in all the blanks."
Me" "How is this information going to be used?"
CS: "I don't know. You have to answer."
Me: "I already told you my answer. I'm offended by this question."
CS: "Do you want me to put you down as White?"
Me: "What makes you think I'm White?"
CS: "Do you want me to put you down as an Other."
Me: "No, I'm not an Other. I don't want to be classified as anything. Just leave it blank."
CS" "I can't do that. You have to put down an answer."

... and round and round it goes.

The thing that gets me, is that an employer in the Private Sector is forbidden from asking questions about race, nationality, etc. Why is the government so insistent on collecting this information?

And I still don't know what purpose it serves. I though we were an equal-opportunity, unbiased, gender neutral nation. If my race doesn't matter, then WHY DO THEY ASK FOR IT?

 

[Uncle Erik]

I filled it out this year, but got a visit ten years back when (for whatever reason) I was too lazy to fill it out.

The visit was nice, really. We filled out the form, made a little small talk and didn't mind it a bit.

I really love that the census has been going on for so long. It's participating in a longstanding American tradition and, wingnuts notwithstanding, entirely harmless.

 

[dpm802]

I really love that the census has been going on for so long. It's participating in a longstanding American tradition and, wingnuts notwithstanding, entirely harmless.

I understand the part about tradition, being that it goes back to 1790 and all that. And Congress mandated that it be conducted every 10 years.

But is once a decade enough? Back in 1790, the population was extremely small as compared today, and wasn't changing so drastically, or so rapidly. Once every 10 years was certainly enough up to the Civil War, and was probably adequate into the early 20th century.

In modern times, I think it would be more accurate, and more effective, if the Census were taken every 5 years, maybe even every 3 years, to keep up with the fast changing demographics in some areas.

 

[Walker]

I talked with some of my co-workers about this and I was surprised at the level of hostility they had toward this census. My questions were only about the people in my house. I got it and filled it out and put it back in the mailbox all on the same day.....1-week later I got another census saying I hadn't filled out my last one. I guess they hadn't gotten to mine yet and checked me off. I ignored the second one and never heard from them again. I try to be nice to all my unexpected guests whether it's a census worker or Jehovah's Witness. I try to treat people the way I would like to be treated.

 

[Kyle Hyde]

I wish everyone was as polite as you all seem to be. Anyway, it's back to the streets tomorrow. I'm having fun trying to see how many interviews I can do in a day. (Right now I'm in 1st place out of 900 ).

Also, your experience about the race question in interesting. We are allowed to leave that section blank and just make a note that it was refused. That worker wasn't following what I was taught.

 

[huntmol]

Definitely agree about being civil to the Census workers, they're just doing their job.

Don't understand how anyone could not fill out that form, though - it only takes a few minutes.

 

[Leche]

5 years, maybe even every 3 years, to keep up with the fast changing demographics in some areas.

It would be way too much money. I don't know about the rest of you, but I got two letters saying it was coming. Then a letter saying it would be here in a week. Then the census form which I only put how many people live in the home which took about a sec and mailed it back. A week later I got a letter saying I got my census form a week ago. No visit from a worker yet which I will politely refuse to answer any further questions. You'll be OK at my house Kyle.

 

[DFrancis]

Generally we should be nice to everybody, we had our enumeration recently leading up to our civil election and SWMBO was as sweet as can be.

 

[dpm802]

I wish everyone was as polite as you all seem to be. Anyway, it's back to the streets tomorrow. I'm having fun trying to see how many interviews I can do in a day. (Right now I'm in 1st place out of 900 ).

Also, your experience about the race question in interesting. We are allowed to leave that section blank and just make a note that it was refused. That worker wasn't following what I was taught.

My sample debate is from when I applied for unemployment benefits, and I had a similar experience at the DMV ... the Civil Servant could not comprehend my reluctance to answer this question, and couldn't understand why I was offended by it.

I did convince her to skip the question and proceed to the end of the form. when she hit the enter button, the computer kicked back my application and pointed to that one question I had refused to answer.

So not only are Civil Servants confounded by this question (and people who refuse to answer it,) they've even translated it into Ones and Zeroes and made their computer as dumb as they are.

When it came time to fill out this year's paper census form, my roommate filled it out ... he put down "White" as my race without asking me, and I didn't feel like fighting him over it. They had space on the form for 12 people, and he put himself down as #1, since he is the home-owner here. I begged and pleaded to be listed as #9, but no, he put me down as #2. I also suggested he make up some random names for #3 ~ #12, but he didn't go for that, either.

 

[chfair]

My sample debate is from when I applied for unemployment benefits, and I had a similar experience at the DMV ... the Civil Servant could not comprehend my reluctance to answer this question, and couldn't understand why I was offended by it.

I did convince her to skip the question and proceed to the end of the form. when she hit the enter button, the computer kicked back my application and pointed to that one question I had refused to answer.

DMV software i would imagine makes race a requirement, for things like drivers license. it is an attribute of a physical description, this piece of info is needed when say a police officer calls in a DL# because someone claimed they left theirs at home he needs a general description and those DMV pictures don't often cut it and many other situations.

so while it may seem out of place for a census there are things that it probably should be given.

can't fault the end users on this stuff because they have no say over how it is done. For the record i might refuse to give that information on the census but would give it for something that could logically use it for something i find reasonable.

 

[Kyle Hyde]

Then the census form which I only put how many people live in the home which took about a sec and mailed it back.

I agree that this is all that should be asked and maybe age (but not date of birth).

In my experience over the last two weeks, I've noticed that DOB, telephone number, and then race are the most commonly refused answers in that order.

I also agree that there is a lot of wasted money for the whole process. It also pisses me off that I am getting paid the same as the crappy workers. I get about 12 interviews per 4 hours while most get about 2-3. I know this is a classic complaint of government working/ union working but it still is annoying. The only reason I don't slow down on purpose is because I'd get too bored not having a contest with myself.

 

[Kyle Hyde]

I also suggested he make up some random names for #3 ~ #12, but he didn't go for that, either.

Maybe you're joking, but I don't know if I like that part. The number of people living at an address is the purpose of the census. I don't have a problem lying about the other stuff, but we do need accurate numbers for representation purposes.

 

[BCatl]

The Census worker is just doing his job. There is no reason to be rude. As stated above, if you have a problem, contact Congress, don't pick on somebody out burning shoe leather.

As far as date of birth, this could be quite helpful to some future genealogist researching your family tree. Besides that, I thought the Tea Partiers were big supporters of the Constitution. Isn't the requirement of the Census in the Constitution? There is a lot of silly stuff going on in America today, I hope it passes soon. I don't intend to blame all this on the Tea Party, I don't know where all this is coming from but some of it is over the top.

 

[kprincehouse]

I work at the front desk of a large condominium building and worked with a census enumerator for two hours today. We restrict access to the building which means she can't just walk door to door, I call everyone first instead. A lot of work but we made good progress, about 16 or so units. Most everyone was cordial, only one person freaked out. It's like they're too important to spare 4 minutes every 10 years! It's amazing what some people take for granted--it's like they think a stable, (mostly) free democracy just happens on its own without any involvement from the citizens.

It's really too bad that people gave you a bad time. I can absolutely see how that would happen and it would really get me down if I were in your shoes. What you're doing isn't glamorous but getting an accurate and thorough count of the people is absolutely vital, so good on you for doing it. I hope people are nice to you tomorrow!

 

[Austin]

There is no excuse for rudeness. Do your civic duty and complete your census.

 

[Obsessed]

My mother is a census worker. Think about that before being rude to the person who comes to your house. (Rest assured that she's not transported to the field in a black helicopter. )

 

[richmondesi]

Definitely agree about being civil to the Census workers, they're just doing their job.

Don't understand how anyone could not fill out that form, though - it only takes a few minutes.

It's easy to understand in some cases... The government didn't send the form to anyone within my town's city limit (according to the census worker that came by). Gotta love it

 

[Mr_Amazing]

I handle all the outgoing mail at a postal facility in my area and I can tell you, it is pathetic that I am still getting these things in the mail. 99% of the census' take 5 minutes to complete. There are some larger packets, but I've seen maybe 50 in an area of about 30,000 residents. They were mailed in the beginning of March and the next day, they started pouring into the Post Office. Most people were prompt. The sad thing is, people are stupid. I can't count how many times I have seen the questionaire put in backwards into the envelope. The other sad thing is that I am still getting them in the outgoing mail. For something to sit at your house since March is absurd.

What is even more pathetic is that one can't take the census online. There is no reason this shouldn't be possible by now. The internet has been around for a solid 15 years and the technology exists such that someone can fill out a questionaire online. Unacceptable on behalf of the government.