Mind Your Own Business

Hi, how are you? Having a good day? Mind if I ask a few questions?

Probably a bunch of tedious nonsense. What should you do if you get asked a bunch of tedious nonsense?

I have suggestions:

How many people were living or staying in this house, apartment, or mobile home on April 1, 2010?
We ask this question to help get an accurate count of the number of people in the household on Census Day, April 1, 2010. The answer should be based on the guidelines in the 'Start here' section. We use the information to ensure response accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information.

I didn’t count at the time, but at least me... well now that you mention it, I wasn't the only one there.

Were there any additional people staying here April 1, 2010 that you did not include in Question 1?
Asked since 1880. We ask this question to help identify people who may have been excluded in the count provided in Question 1. We use the information to ensure response accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information.

Maybe… I didn’t check.

Is this house, apartment, or mobile home: owned with mortgage, owned without mortgage, rented, occupied without rent?
Asked since 1890. Homeownership rates serve as an indicator of the nation's economy. The data are also used to administer housing programs and to inform planning decisions.

I really don’t know. I have someone else manage that information and my finances. Buy the way, your question has been intrusive since 1890.

What is your telephone number?
We ask for a phone number in case we need to contact a respondent when a form is returned with incomplete or missing information.

Look it up online, if you can find it.

Please provide information for each person living here. Start with a person here who owns or rents this house, apartment, or mobile home. If the owner or renter lives somewhere else, start with any adult living here. This will be Person 1. What is Person 1's name?
Listing the name of each person in the household helps the respondent to include all members, particularly in large households where a respondent may forget who was counted and who was not. Also, names are needed if additional information about an individual must be obtained to complete the census form. Federal law protects the confidentiality of personal information, including names.

Please refer to Person 1 as “Mike Hunt”.

What is Person 1's sex?
Asked since 1790. Census data about sex are important because many federal programs must differentiate between males and females for funding, implementing and evaluating their programs. For instance, laws promoting equal employment opportunity for women require census data on sex. Also, sociologists, economists, and other researchers who analyze social and economic trends use the data.

You’d think I’d know whether Mike Hunt is male or female… looks female, but has a male name.

What is Person 1's age and Date of Birth?
Asked since 1800. Federal, state, and local governments need data about age to interpret most social and economic characteristics, such as forecasting the number of people eligible for Social Security or Medicare benefits. The data are widely used in planning and evaluating government programs and policies that provide funds or services for children, working-age adults, women of childbearing age, or the older population.

I don’t know how old Mike Hunt is… doesn’t look old, though.

Is Person 1 of Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin?
Asked since 1970. The data collected in this question are needed by federal agencies to monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions, such as under the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State and local governments may use the data to help plan and administer bilingual programs for people of Hispanic origin.

Mike Hunt wants you to drop the 40 year old question… because Mike Hunt thinks federal, state, and local agencies should not monitor compliance with anti-discrimination provisions. Mike Hunt thinks you are a quota-queen.

If I need to answer, I’ll try a stab in the dark. Perhaps Mike Hunt is Brazilian… I’m basing that on Mike Hunt’s hairstyle.

What is Person 1's race?
Asked since 1790. Race is key to implementing many federal laws and is needed to monitor compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act. State governments use the data to determine congressional, state and local voting districts. Race data are also used to assess fairness of employment practices, to monitor racial disparities in characteristics such as health and education and to plan and obtain funds for public services.

Again, you’d think it wouldn’t be difficult to have a vague idea of what race Mike Hunt is. Mike Hunt is light brown in parts, but also pink.

Does Person 1 sometimes live or stay somewhere else?
This is another question we ask in order to ensure response accuracy and completeness and to contact respondents whose forms have incomplete or missing information.

Probably, but right now I don’t know where Mike Hunt is. Have you seen Mike Hunt? Maybe Mike Hunt is in the parking lot.