Census

Fully-sprung

We filled in ours on the, erm, 27th. I decided I'd take it up to the post box on by bike and what a pain in the a***. I actually had to stop to put it in the post box it was that big, can you believe it hey? I even had to bend it in half so it would fit. I was hoping to be able to ride past and slot it straight in but oh no, they went and made it a couple of inches too wide. The questions are stupid to.

Northwind

bails87 wrote:

And that's why I have a problem with the whole "hahaha, I'm a jedi" thing. It means religious peeps (yeah, I'm down with the kids) get more credibility than they should, get more of a voice than they should and may well end up getting more public money than they should.

Not at all, their use of that figure met with widespread ridicule and undermined their position.

Put it this way- if all the jedi had said they're atheists, then the census would still say 76.1% of the population have a religion, and that number (while false) would be taken seriously, and the statistical argument against is complicated and not really snappy enough.

But as it stands, they say 76.8% of the population have a religion, and we say "Aye, if you include the ****ing jedi! Your figures are obviously pish", you have an instant, decisive rebuttal.

Daz555 wrote:

Something like 72% of the population say they are Christian but when asked if they believe God a smidge less than 50% actually do!

That's awesome isn't it 38% btw. One of my favourite bits of statwrangling ever that.

welshkev

e and the gf had a seperate 'interview' by the office for national statistics where they ask some more in depth questions and she said that this census may be the last as it cost so much money.

just a ray of hope for all you who mind filling it out (the gf did ours so i might have moaned if i had to do it )

tlw1

National statistics are a pain in the arse at work, hours per month wasted.

Best bit about getting an assistant was passing those on

bails87

Northwind wrote:

bails87 wrote:

And that's why I have a problem with the whole "hahaha, I'm a jedi" thing. It means religious peeps (yeah, I'm down with the kids) get more credibility than they should, get more of a voice than they should and may well end up getting more public money than they should.

Not at all, their use of that figure met with widespread ridicule and undermined their position.

Put it this way- if all the jedi had said they're atheists, then the census would still say 76.1% of the population have a religion, and that number (while false) would be taken seriously, and the statistical argument against is complicated and not really snappy enough.

But as it stands, they say 76.8% of the population have a religion, and we say "Aye, if you include the ****ing jedi! Your figures are obviously pish", you have an instant, decisive rebuttal.

But some people seem to think "if you put 'Jedi', they just say that your atheist don't they? Because it's not an official religion". I can't remember if it was in this thread, or the roadie/commuter one on the same topic that someone said it.

So we have a choice between an accurate number, and an innacurate one that some people might question the validity of, but that might give some other people slightly more credibility than they deserve. Why not just put atheist/agnostic/whatever and be done with it?! I'm sure the census staff aren't thinking "hahaha, what a comedian, that's made my day"/"oh noes, he's beaten the system" when they see that you've copied someone else's idea. If you're going to 'fight the power' you could at least be original about it

Northwind

bails87 wrote:

So we have a choice between an accurate number, and an innacurate one that some people might question the validity of, but that might give some other people slightly more credibility than they deserve. Why not just put atheist/agnostic/whatever and be done with it?! I'm sure the census staff aren't thinking "hahaha, what a comedian, that's made my day"/"oh noes, he's beaten the system" when they see that you've copied someone else's idea. If you're going to 'fight the power' you could at least be original about it

It wouldn't be very effective if there was 45,000,000 "christians" and 1 Northwindahoovian now would it?

Your choice is wrong. Both numbers are wildly inaccurate, but only one is immediately and demonstrably inaccurate, the other one looks legit til you get into the detail (ie, comparing survey to survey, very nearly 50% of those that identified themselves as christians don't believe in god, for a start, only 10% go to church)

The census religion question's far too soft, it could almost be designed to get a duff response. If it were broadened out with the sanity tester "Do you believe in a god or gods" and also "Do you regularily practice your faith" or "Do you pray" or "Do you attend church" or "Actually, wait a second, are you sure you're a christian? Really sure?" or similiar would definately give a lower response.