The Census

[1976gmc20]

https://www.ktvq.com/news/us-news/ce...lds-in-montana

Wonder if "non-responding" includes those not giving names, etc ?

All of our gates are kept shut this time of year because we are grazing the horses on both sides of our land. ID badges, huh? I don't react very well to unidentified vehicles just coming on our property

[dave6672]

I graduated from college in 1990 and didn't yet have a real job, so I went to work knocking on doors for the census making $5.50/hour. I had 125 addresses that I had to locate and try to get a count of the people as well as fill out the other information on the form. The area I had to cover was very rural, so me and my 66' Impala banged up and down a lot of gravel roads and crossed several creeks. Thankfully most everyone I encountered was pretty nice - must have not been any of you guys!

Here I am ready for action along with my trusty 66' Impala. There must have not been a dress code for census employees.......

[Chevyland]

:[QUOTE=dave6672;8791717] Thankfully most everyone I encountered was pretty nice - must have not been any of you guys!



Cool story

That made me chuckle
Edit..
Or, maybe it was the picture

[1976gmc20]

Thankfully most everyone I encountered was pretty nice - must have not been any of you guys!

The last car something like that showed up here was some guys just out of jail demanding that I come help them take a pickup off of somebody else's property

Edit to add: they really need to provide some magnetic door signs for the the census folks' vehicles.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

The last car something like that showed up here was some guys just out of jail demanding that I come help them take a pickup off of somebody else's property

Edit to add: they really need to provide some magnetic door signs for the the census folks' vehicles.

Yeah, that would make it seem legit, just like the guy driving the truck through the neighborhood with "FREE CANDY" signs on his truck.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Yeah, that would make it seem legit, just like the guy driving the truck through the neighborhood with "FREE CANDY" signs on his truck.

So far the bad folks haven't been very stealthy, like the scumbags cruising around in an old Ford pickup with one of those engine hoist cranes bolted in the back corner: seriously ?????

And the long-haired creeps who "just got out of the service." Oh really, what branch?

The old guy from the census that I jumped on last fall looked nice enough with a newer pickup, but driving up to every house in the neighborhood and then driving away was pretty damn suspicious. We were at the barn and I caught up with him thinking about coming through one of our gates. I would have been a little more polite if the pickup had been marked. He waved some ID card and said he was mapping occupied residences. I told him there was nobody up there which was literally true at the moment.

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by 1976gmc20

And the long-haired creeps who "just got out of the service." Oh really, what branch?

I'm a long haired creep in an old truck. But my hair is getting thinner (on top)

But I know what you're talking about. I don't want those types around my place either.

[1976gmc20]

Originally Posted by FleetsidePaul

I'm a long haired creep in an old truck. But my hair is getting thinner (on top)

But I know what you're talking about. I don't want those types around my place either.

And they're always "almost out of gas" too. Begging for gas I guess because they know rural folks always keep some extra cans sitting around. But their car is still idling out in my driveway

There was a couple showed up one night. I met him out on the deck with a gun. Lady GMC talked to her at the back door. We sort of had them between us. Later, my wife said that she got the feeling that the young lady was being abused, but I didn't/couldn't know that at the time. So I wish I had called the sheriff, but then I couldn't exactly hold them for five hours waiting for a deputy to show up. The guy was looking for our felon ex-neighbor and said that he owed him money. We got to thinking later that maybe he wanted to make some money by having his girlfriend "star" in one of the old neighbor's movie productions

So, yeah ... I'm a mean old coot who isn't very friendly to random strangers that just show up unannounced in the middle of nowhere.

[1976gmc20]

Well, sure enough ... I was headed out for a horse ride and somebody yelled at me from the barn. I turned back and it was a lady we know from the other end of our neighborhood working for the census. She asked about the address across the road and I told her who lived there and suggested she not go up there without calling a deputy to go with her.

That's the old guy that threatened to kill me last fall. Anyway she wrote it all down and said that was good enough

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by Stocker

I filled out a census form online several weeks ago. Can't recall any particulars but I know there were a few things I left blank.

Must be at least 35 years since I sat as an alternate juror, but didn't deliberate. Sure taught me a bit about lawyers being salesmen (and liars in one instance).
I have been summoned for jury duty a few times over the years, but for some reason I always get rejected. Hmmmmmmm.

Did ours online too. Pretty simple really. Lot of questions I saw as unrelated were left unanswered.

Was an alternate juror 6 years ago. Up until that point, I avoided it like the plague.

The case was 3 weeks long and a molestation case at that. Sitting and listening was agonizing as I had 4 young kids, 3 of which are girls. I couldn't understand why someone would want to defend this guy. Wanted to jump over the rail and wail on the defendant least once a day.

At the end of the lawyers bickering, the other alternate and I were excused while the jurors deliberated. I left not knowing the jury's decision. Got a letter from the judge thanking me for doing my civic duty and keeping my cool during the trial.

A few months later, at a local bar, I spotted (I thought) the lead detective from the trial. I didn't say anything to him as he was out with friends but apparently he remembered me 'cuz out of nowhere the waitress brought me a beer that the officer had bought me. I went over to thank him and to ask what the outcome of the trial was and he told me that the guy got 42 years. He will be 75+ by the time he can be considered for release. I got some closure hearing that and decided that if called again, Id wouldn't hesitate to go. It changed my perspective of the phrases "a jury of your peers" and "civic duty".

Ironically, I used to get called at least twice sometimes 3 times a year, every year up until that trial. 30 years worth of summons. Haven't been called once in the 6 years since....Guess they didn't think I did a good job

[special-K]

Originally Posted by CG

I get not wanting to over share with the Gov. But I don't get not wanting to do jury duty.
I'm pretty sure I don't want that to go away and have some government officials making decisions a jury makes, even though ya gotta wonder sometimes about those decisions.

I get not wanting to over share info with the government. I truly think they ask way too many nunya bisnez questions. But I really don't get disregarding the census and tossing in the trash. Please explain. I think it is important to know how many people live in the United States and how they are dispersed. I think many reasons should be obvious.

I am looking at homes for sale. I appreciate that the information is there for population and demographics in the nearest town, the county, the general area, etc.

I remember my mom's hometown having 800+ residents in my early adulthood. More recently I noticed the welcome sign at the edge of town says 500+. That's a big drop. I looked on Wikipedia and saw the town's heyday had something like 1,100+ in the 1800s when The B&O Railroad had a spur into town. It's good to know what the population trends are, if nothing else. I think the census is important. I think by not cooperating at all, those people forfeit their right to complain about a lot of things. It's so simple to just be counted.

As far as jury duty goes, check that second word out, "duty". We need more sense of duty in this country, like there was when this was a better nation.

I was in a lawsuit from an accident. The question was not who was at fault, it was over alleged negligence on my behalf. Totally bogus way someone thought they could use to get some easy money. It was a jury hearing, two days. The regional rep for my insurance company was up from Charlotte, NC. That shows they were worried about losing their $100k. I just told it like it was. The rep had tried to settle with her lawyer but he was so sure of himself he said he was going for the whole ball of wax. Well, thanks to a jury who sat and listened, they could see through the crap and the result was they got nada. I am very grateful for the people who say the sense of duty and showed up for it

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by '63GENIII

I Haven't been called once in the 6 years since....Guess they didn't think I did a good job

It's the defense attorney's. They size you up. If you look like an honest person with good judgement. They don't want you and you'll get the boot.

That's why I can't believe they bounced me. I don't look like either of those things.

[67C10Step]

My wife filled out our census online a while back. She knew to not let me do it and I don't know how complete she filled it out. I know they need numbers of people for a lot of things so that is all I think they should get. I want to make sure we don't miss out on our government money and possible representation changes.

As far as jury duty goes it has been a long time since I was called up. I got selected from the pool in one case but booted off and I know why. One of the attorneys asked if anyone of us knew what all the numbers and letters on the side of a tire meant. Me and one other guy raised our hands and we were the first ones booted. Can't have intelligent jurors. Second time around I was selected because of a single question as well. Lawyer asked if any of us had ever been in an auto accident and understood what the term "stove up" meant. Again, I raised my hand and got selected. Got booted two hours later though when a key witness didn't show and the judge said they would seat a new jury later.

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by special-K

I get not wanting to over share info with the government. I truly think they ask way too many nunya bisnez questions. But I really don't get disregarding the census and tossing in the trash. Please explain. I think it is important to know how many people live in the United States and how they are dispersed. I think many reasons should be obvious.

I am looking at homes for sale. I appreciate that the information is there for population and demographics in the nearest town, the county, the general area, etc.

I remember my mom's hometown having 800+ residents in my early adulthood. More recently I noticed the welcome sign at the edge of town says 500+. That's a big drop. I looked on Wikipedia and saw the town's heyday had something like 1,100+ in the 1800s when The B&O Railroad had a spur into town. It's good to know what the population trends are, if nothing else. I think the census is important. I think by not cooperating at all, those people forfeit their right to complain about a lot of things. It's so simple to just be counted.

As far as jury duty goes, check that second word out, "duty". We need more sense of duty in this country, like there was when this was a better nation.

I was in a lawsuit from an accident. The question was not who was at fault, it was over alleged negligence on my behalf. Totally bogus way someone thought they could use to get some easy money. It was a jury hearing, two days. The regional rep for my insurance company was up from Charlotte, NC. That shows they were worried about losing their $100k. I just told it like it was. The rep had tried to settle with her lawyer but he was so sure of himself he said he was going for the whole ball of wax. Well, thanks to a jury who sat and listened, they could see through the crap and the result was they got nada. I am very grateful for the people who say the sense of duty and showed up for it

I agree about demographics being important. But they already know who I am and where I live. I'm not hard to find.

I googled my name and it was all there. My address. My family. Everything. And I never told anybody anything. I don't feel that I need to tell anyone any more at this point. They know more about me than I do.

[1976gmc20]

In this day and time, having all that personal information plus GPS coordinates in one massive government database just doesn't feel right.

Number of folks, sex and age, and citizenship is all they really need to know to apportion representation.

Though apparently they just threw away all the info from the 2010 census since they had to start all over again last year trying to locate residences

Closed gates even when not locked are pretty nice as most people won't get out to open them

[lousyflyer]

My friend who is a census taker (I guess that's what you call them) told me that certain residences are labeled as "Dangerous" and they dont get counted unless the taker is accompanied by law enforcement or animal control employees. So some individuals get annoyed or belligerent but the numbers of such incidences is really low.

I used to get annoyed when strangers knocked on my door. Now I just tell them that our conversation cannot continue unless unless they eat at least two of my cookies. They just say no thanks and step backwards without turning around until they feel safe. I guess some people just don't like cookies.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by lousyflyer

My friend who is a census taker (I guess that's what you call them) told me that certain residences are labeled as "Dangerous" and they dont get counted unless the taker is accompanied by law enforcement or animal control employees. So some individuals get annoyed or belligerent but the numbers of such incidences is really low.

I used to get annoyed when strangers knocked on my door. Now I just tell them that our conversation cannot continue unless unless they eat at least two of my cookies. They just say no thanks and step backwards without turning around until they feel safe. I guess some people just don't like cookies.

You call them "cookies", but the rest of the English-speaking world calls them "Alice B. Toblas brownies", right? Yes, I'm joking, I've never eaten that kind of brownies. One never knows what is actually in them, and they may contain a one way ticket to a coffin.

['63GENIII]

Originally Posted by lousyflyer

My friend who is a census taker (I guess that's what you call them) told me that certain residences are labeled as "Dangerous" and they dont get counted unless the taker is accompanied by law enforcement or animal control employees. So some individuals get annoyed or belligerent but the numbers of such incidences is really low.

I used to get annoyed when strangers knocked on my door. Now I just tell them that our conversation cannot continue unless unless they eat at least two of my cookies. They just say no thanks and step backwards without turning around until they feel safe. I guess some people just don't like cookies.

This explains a lot. I used to have people coming by the house trying to spread the the word. Im pretty private about that though. One day in '15 when I had the truck blown apart in the garage, these two nice ladies who were all dressed up came down the driveway and asked if they could talk to me about their good book. From under the truck, greasy and beat up knuckles I said "sure we can talk but can you hand me the open end wrench that i left on the chair right next to you? One of the ladies, with a white gloved hand played along and handed me the greasy wrench. One look at her glove shortened up the conversation to "well we can see you're busy, how about we come back another time?" I said sure and thanked her but they never came back .

I think the rest of them think they might get robbed at my house so, there's that too .

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

You call them "cookies", but the rest of the English-speaking world calls them "Alice B. Toblas brownies", right? Yes, I'm joking, I've never eaten that kind of brownies. One never knows what is actually in them, and they may contain a one way ticket to a coffin.

I have an old copy of that cookbook. I've never used it. I laid off the weed decades ago.

[Steeveedee]

Originally Posted by FleetsidePaul

I have an old copy of that cookbook. I've never used it. I laid off the weed decades ago.

Took me a few seconds to figure out what that was a picture of. Never saw that recipe book!

[lousyflyer]

That book may have some value, and I would ask where you bought it, but it is "highly" unlikely that you can remember. Been there, done that.

I remember the census before the internet. Back then a visit was pretty much inevitable. Nowadays if you fill out the stuff online, you don't have to deal with a face to face visit.

The census takers are not supposed to to discuss the people that they interview, but they are an invaluable source of information as to what they see as they go about their day. Things like three golf carts parked next to a dumpster, or a really old truck parked somewhere...

[FleetsidePaul]

A Census taker just came to my door.

She was cute. So I was nice. (Funny how that works) I told her I had no time because I was on hold which was true. I was on hold.

So she just asked how many people lived here. I told her 2

And what are there names? She asked.

I said Phil D. Graves and Al Koholic. (Think about it)

[Stocker]

Paul.....

[kenn]

Hello I live in a democratic state, my vote means nothing (always vote) I'm Republican. I filled out the form on line with zeros,I was out of town on 1April. They showed up later and I ran them off.
I was on a jury in a murder trial as an alternate,it was very interesting and I enjoyed it until the end and was not able to deliberate.

[LEEVON]

My wife did the mail in census earlier this year then we moved to a new house, as in new construction. A census worker came to the new house and was very very confused. I heard my wife spelling it out for her like okay...STEP 1 we lived there...STEP 2....we now live here...STEP 3...we're the same people. Mind blowing logistics.

A few years ago I received a business census/survey from the census bureau. Thinking it was a required task I tried to complete it. The first round was well over an hour of logging in and reading. The second round was another hour plus of providing information, not sure how I stuck in there so long but I finally said screw it and threw in the towel. My business isn't even that complicated and I was not anywhere near complete. They sent me many more requests and light "threats" that it should be complete. So five, six, seven hours of census work for the government does what? Who freaking has time to do this!!?