# The Census is underway! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 12, 2020, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313 "2020-03-12T02:53:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2020, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/21 "2020-03-13T21:15:34Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > The nine census questions are at this link [https://www.npr.org/2019/03/31/707899218/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-2020-census](https://www.npr.org/2019/03/31/707899218/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-2020-census) The phone number request rubs me the wrong way. I don’t give out digits if I don’t wanna hear from you. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/22 "2020-03-14T00:09:06Z")
I completed my training yesterday and my crew hits the streets on Sunday the 15th. We’re hand-delivering Census forms to people who don’t get their mail at their physical address. (The Census doesn’t send mail to P.O. Boxes.) Our end date is April 10th, so you can see that we don’t expect to have a huge workload. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/23 "2020-03-14T15:23:46Z")
I worked on the 2010 census. There are a lot of people who are reluctant to participate, especially at group homes where they are very protective of the people living there. I went to one home for abused women, and the guy was very combative about even providing the number of people living there (which is all I was asking for). I tried to be diplomatic about it and calmly explained that no names or personal information was being collected, but when he got in my face I basically told him to go fuck himself. Also had to try to count homeless people living under bridges, etc. Didn’t like that part at all. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/24 "2020-03-14T15:50:26Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > My notice did not have a form. Nor did it mention email. It gives a url that I have to go to and a 12-character Census ID code that I need to use at that page. This is what I got, and it took me maybe 10 minutes to complete. Easy-peasy. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/25 "2020-03-14T16:29:27Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > The phone number request rubs me the wrong way. I don’t give out digits if I don’t wanna hear from you. I don’t mind the phone number, but I don’t see why they needed my Netflix password. ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/26 "2020-03-14T20:55:59Z")
Just filled mine out online, and it took only a couple minutes. I listed myself as “white,” and they insisted I specify my heritage, suggesting examples like English, German, Egyptian, Arabic, etc. Did they always ask for that specificity for “white”? Otherwise, it was a lot fewer questions than in the past. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/27 "2020-03-15T03:31:27Z")
Just filled out the census online while lying here buck naked. It’s the wife’s first US census, and she’s excited about being included. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/28 "2020-03-15T04:24:35Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I worked on the 2010 census. There are a lot of people who are reluctant to participate, especially at group homes where they are very protective of the people living there. I went to one home for abused women, and the guy was very combative about even providing the number of people living there (which is all I was asking for). I tried to be diplomatic about it and calmly explained that no names or personal information was being collected, but when he got in my face I basically told him to go fuck himself. Also had to try to count homeless people living under bridges, etc. Didn’t like that part at all. Was he a security guard? I just can’t imagine a man living in a place like that. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/29 "2020-03-15T05:03:07Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Just filled out the census online while lying here buck naked. It’s the wife’s first US census, and she’s excited about being included. When your wife saw you lying there naked and said she was excited about joining in on whatever you were doing, you might have missed a signal. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/30 "2020-03-15T05:08:29Z")
> [@Chicken\_Fingers](#): > > Just filled mine out online, and it took only a couple minutes. I listed myself as “white,” and they insisted I specify my heritage, suggesting examples like English, German, Egyptian, Arabic, etc. Did they always ask for that specificity for “white”? Otherwise, it was a lot fewer questions than in the past. They have the last few times, which is all I can remember. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/31 "2020-03-15T05:11:04Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > I mentioned the Census notice to one of the other guys in this house. His immediate reaction was that he doesn’t do anything having to do with the federal government and, for all I can tell, the state government too. (Obviously a serious parkertaker of the anti-gov koolaide – I wonder what he does for his taxes. Or gets a jury summons.) He said he’d send it to our landlord and let him deal with it. > > I was first inclined to do that, but then had second thoughts. What kind of info do they ask for? I know this guy’s name (more or less, he’s Jeff, but I don’t know what that’s short for) and age. Do they want more than that? Name, age, sex, and relationship to the main member of the household. (There was a long list of choices for the last, everything from “opposite sex spouse” to “adopted child” to “other relative” to “roommate”, etc.) ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/32 "2020-03-15T05:18:51Z")
> [@digs](#): > > So why is that? I’ve been wondering what the differences would be between those who respond online and those who mail it in. > > I was surprised that there was only an online reply mentioned. My first thought “Really? Do they think everyone has email? And doesn’t mind giving their email address to Da Gummint?” The letter indicates that if no online reply is received, a paper form will be sent out. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2020, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/33 "2020-03-15T19:51:13Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Just filled out the census online while lying here buck naked. It’s the wife’s first US census, and she’s excited about being included. Just to mention, this is the first census in which I appear since 1990. That year, I returned from Thailand for the first time and was floating around the Southwest looking for a home. So my father in Texas simply included me in his household despite the fact that I had no intention of living there or anywhere else in the state. In 2000 and 2010, my father was dead and I back in Thailand and so did not receive or answer any census forms. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/34 "2020-03-16T18:01:56Z")
I have 2 other friends who were hired for the Census over the weekend. One starts training at the end of this month, the other will be doing their training in May. If you have applied and haven’t heard anything, don’t give up hope. Hiring is still going on, your phone might ring today! ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/35 "2020-03-16T18:12:28Z")
**The Census is underway!** Count me in! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/36 "2020-03-16T19:27:40Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > **The Census is underway!** > > Count me in! 🙂 Heh. Li’l Map (9 years old) just filled out my family’s form, just like I did at his age in 1980. ---
**Author:** ![tripthicket](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripthicket/32/297_2.png) [@tripthicket](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tripthicket)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/37 "2020-03-16T20:55:44Z")
Did mine online a couple days ago. Checked off the ‘White’ box, but then it wanted ‘So, German, French, what, what ARE you, exactly?’ I dunno, my mom was adopted, so knew nothing of her history, and I never knew much about my biological father’s history. _shrug_ I guess it’s important, but I don’t know why. Always looked kinda askance at anything asking my race anyway. After leaving that box blank twice, it accepted my non-answer. _poof_ Done. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/38 "2020-03-16T21:20:45Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > Li’l Map (9 years old) just filled out my family’s form… > [@tripthicket](#): > > Did mine online a couple days ago. Are we supposed to be notified in some way that we are to take the census, and how to do it? A decade ago, I received the form in the mail. Online? Are we supposed to just know where to go? Or will the government send a postcard with the URL? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/39 "2020-03-16T21:57:19Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Are we supposed to be notified in some way that we are to take the census, and how to do it? A decade ago, I received the form in the mail. Online? Are we supposed to just know where to go? Or will the government send a postcard with the URL? You’ll surely get a letter in the next couple days. It contains a code linked to your house or apartment. You go the the website, enter the code, and answer the questions. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2020, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313/40 "2020-03-16T22:01:07Z")
Thanks. Incidentally, I was an enumerator in the 1980 census. Four bucks an hour, which was really good for a teenager. Plus mileage. Since I lived in the Mojave Desert, that 40¢ per mile (or whatever it was) really added up! 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-census-is-underway/849313.md?page=3)