Census - religion question

[Ed]

Put 'biker'

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_169227299791835&ap=1

[Dave20046]

hmm interesting
What sort of percentage will they need to see before it's released as a statistic?
I know a lot of people put Jedi but I can't ever remember hearing Britain being described as"30%christian, 40%muslim,15% atheist and 15% jedi" or whatever on the news.

[amnesia]

Why?

[timwilky]

I just opted out. TBH, I wonder who approves the questions in the first place. Race ****ed me off, why include the phrase british in the same box as English with the subjugated nations. I am not British, I don't consider myself English. I am Lancastrian and proud. Britain and england have skint me for no good reason. I would rather support and be allied to where what I do can make a difference

[Specialone]

I just opted out. TBH, I wonder who approves the questions in the first place. Race ****ed me off, why include the phrase british in the same box as English with the subjugated nations. I am not British, I don't consider myself English. I am Lancastrian and proud. Britain and england have skint me for no good reason. I would rather support and be allied to where what I do can make a difference

Seen a map lately ?

We should be proud to be english / british and not all split into our own little sections, otherwise we will lose our indentity forever.
The bloody cornish are the same, fine if thats what they want, then all the funding from central can stop as well, lets see how self funding they can be, put a big feck off wall up and see how they cope.

[toxic]

Too late, I put Sith, I fully embrace my dark side.

[yorkie_chris]

We should be proud to be english / british and not all split into our own little sections, otherwise we will lose our indentity forever.

You could say the same, he doesn't want to be British and lose his Lanc identity. God knows why :-P

Being a load of little sections is what Britain and the British are. There never was, and hopefully never will be, any one British identity.

[Specialone]

You could say the same, he doesn't want to be British and lose his Lanc identity. God knows why :-P

Being a load of little sections is what Britain and the British are. There never was, and hopefully never will be, any one British identity.
No, but there has been an english one for quite a while, last time i looked all you lot up there fell into that section ;)
Or do we need to move hadrians wall a bit further south?

[yorkie_chris]

No, but there has been an english one for quite a while, last time i looked all you lot up there fell into that section ;)
Or do we need to move hadrians wall a bit further south?

I disagree, there never has been one English identity, I'm not a monkey hanger or a sheep shagger or a southern poof. Let alone any ridiculous ideas about me "identifying" as a pasty faced porridge muncher.

[Ed]

The bloody cornish are the same, fine if thats what they want, then all the funding from central can stop as well, lets see how self funding they can be, put a big feck off wall up and see how they cope.

Wifey is Cornish:D:D

[Specialone]

Wifey is Cornish:D:D

Thats ok, mines half potato picker ;)

[orose]

Toasting fork at the ready for when it gets noticed that you said you lot up there and bundled Yorkshire and Lancashire into the same bunch...

[Specialone]

Toasting fork at the ready for when it gets noticed that you said you lot up there and bundled Yorkshire and Lancashire into the same bunch...

Thats ok, ill spray them with our shandy ;)

[Owenski]

Religion: Leeds United, IMO religion is a joke therefore I mock the question.

( Sub-plot ) Nationality: English - The way I see it Im not Scottish, Im not Welsh therefore not british and thus English. Anyone who is British is in the same sence equally European and the way I see it Im not French Im not German and so on therefore Im not European which brings be back to been just plain English.

[The Idle Biker]

;)Leeds united?

[thulfi]

Anyone who claims to be British must therefore be equally European... Im not French Im not German and so on therefore Im not European I'm English.

But isn't England in Europe, doesn't that make you European?

[Bluefish]

Religion: Leeds United, IMO religion is a joke therefore I mock the question.

( Sub-plot ) Nationality: English - The way I see it Im not Scottish, Im not Welsh therefore not british and thus English. Anyone who claims to be British must therefore be equally European... Im not French Im not German and so on therefore Im not European I'm English.

Ah, but i was born in scotland but have lived nearly all of my life in england about a year in n ireland and 10 mins in wales, so i put british, england didn't fight the germans britain did.

[Ed]

england didn't fight the germans britain did.

Another who can't leave history in the past;)

[Von Teese]

Put 'biker'
Love it!!!

[Bri w]

Apart from answering the basic questions correctly I may have accidently answered other, intrusive, questions incorrectly;):smt016

Do you think I will get a certificate?:rolleyes:

[Owenski]

But isn't England in Europe, doesn't that make you European?

Ah, but i was born in scotland but have lived nearly all of my life in england about a year in n ireland and 10 mins in wales, so i put british, england didn't fight the germans britain did.

I have changed my wording slightly so it may effect your above posts but to elaborate. England may be part of the EU but Im no more German or French than I am Scottish or Welsh. When there is a world cup on I cheer for one side and one side only England, admitantly the tourument usually gets dull after the quaters as I've no one to cheer but thats all part of been a pom.
I cant say Im a proud little Englander based on our present but Im proud of our history.

[Reeder]

I dont see why people just can't answer the questions properly.
So what they may be diggin a little deeper than they need to, but why does it really matter? How is it going to effect you? I doubt it ever will.
If the government is spending all this money trying to get to know these things then why effectively make them waste it but putting complete rubbish as the answers?

Sorry, just my thoughts on it.

[Quedos]

Religion: Leeds United, IMO religion is a joke therefore I mock the question.

( Sub-plot ) Nationality: English - The way I see it Im not Scottish, Im not Welsh therefore not british and thus English. Anyone who is British is in the same sence equally European and the way I see it Im not French Im not German and so on therefore Im not European which brings be back to been just plain English.

since when was England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales a seperate entity like France and Germany.

Sure a similar comparison would be against Brittany and other sub regions within these countries.

Britain is to France and Germany - a country not a region/subsection therefore you are british by nationality and english by birth.
and whether you like or not your are european becasue the country you reside/born in is within the confinds of Europe. You may not wish to be defined as european as is your right.

[Quedos]

Reeder - how do I answer it then - English born, lived most of my life albeit 2 years in Scotland, I have an affinity to both

[Reeder]

I'm talking about religion mainly but I guess the same can apply for the nationality thing.
Anyway, being born in England I would say you're classed as English (please correct me if I'm wrong as people obviously have different circumstances) and your current location is Scotland (as they'll obviously see from your census address) so it's pretty clear to me what you should put.

[The Guru]

Reeder - how do I answer it then - English born, lived most of my life albeit 2 years in Scotland, I have an affinity to both

English

[orose]

The answer to the religion question is potentially important, because there is a belief that a certain percentage of replies claiming to be a member a religion means that the government has to recognise it, and therefore apply to it the assurances of the discrimination acts against people due to their religious beliefs.

I'm not sure how true that is, however.

[SoulKiss]

Wifey is Cornish:D:D

And you are a Clot - perfect match :p

(sorry Ed, had to be done :p)

[BernardBikerchick]

My religion is s$x i am a s%x mechanic !!!

[Bluefish]

I'm talking about religion mainly but I guess the same can apply for the nationality thing.
Anyway, being born in England I would say you're classed as English (please correct me if I'm wrong as people obviously have different circumstances) and your current location is Scotland (as they'll obviously see from your census address) so it's pretty clear to me what you should put.

well in that case why didn't they just ask, where were you born, quedos= english, me scotish, where as in reality the opposite may be true.

[Reeder]

I dont bloody know.
But she knows that officially she is an English person living in Scotland, so why put anything other than the facts?
People just seem to go out of their way to make things a problem. Just answer them to the best of your ability.

[Ed]

And you are a Clot - perfect match :p

(sorry Ed, had to be done :p)

No need to apologise, as it's true:D:D

I dont bloody know.
But she knows that officially she is an English person living in Scotland, so why put anything other than the facts?
People just seem to go out of their way to make things a problem. Just answer them to the best of your ability.

Where's the fun in that:confused:

[Reeder]

Where's the fun in wasting your taxes anymore than they already are?

[Quedos]

yeah but is nationality just in where your born on can it also be based on parents ie born in england to scottish parents?
see I'm totally confused.
and its fun to confuse everyone else. though best answer I every seen 1991 census

occupation - Minister - Church of Scotland
employer - See above

its the unintentional ones that are the funniest( and getting it back onto religion)
I can't fit in lapsed agnostic into the boxes though

[Ed]

Where's the fun in wasting your taxes anymore than they already are?

Andrew mate - take the poker out your ar$e:D

[Reeder]

Noooooooo.
I'm normally the first one to muck about and take the **** out of things but for some reason I just can't see the point in people not filling this out properly. Just a complete waste of our money. It's got to me.

I'll stop now.

[johnnyrod]

The answer to the religion question is potentially important, because there is a belief that a certain percentage of replies claiming to be a member a religion means that the government has to recognise it, and therefore apply to it the assurances of the discrimination acts against people due to their religious beliefs.

I'm not sure how true that is, however.
It's an urban myth started last time around with the whole Jedi thing.

[timwilky]

what do MI5 etc put in it for employment /employer?

Do they lie or say cannot tell you?

[orose]

Suspected as much, but it's a nice thought

[Messie]

I'm actually with Reeder on this. My first instinct was going down the anarchist route (anything to rock the establishment) then I thought again.
Money is being spent on the census; services, like health and education, will be planned on the basis of the census information. In addition, in generations to come, this information will be valuable to individuals and social historians.

So, overall, I've come to the conclusion to be honest (I guess the old punk in me has finally grown up)

[Bri w]

Noooooooo.
I'm normally the first one to muck about and take the **** out of things but for some reason I just can't see the point in people not filling this out properly. Just a complete waste of our money. It's got to me.

I'll stop now.

I'm actually with Reeder on this. My first instinct was going down the anarchist route (anything to rock the establishment) then I thought again.
Money is being spent on the census; services, like health and education, will be planned on the basis of the census information. In addition, in generations to come, this information will be valuable to individuals and social historians.

So, overall, I've come to the conclusion to be honest (I guess the old punk in me has finally grown up)

Just because someone has spent the money doesn't mean its spent wisely, or that asking intrusive questions is ok.

Its subjective but that's how I feel. If you feel differently, fine. And little old me won't make any difference to the outcome.

[Ed]

But the religion quezzie is not compulsory!!! If future historians can see I was a biker then that's fine by me, I'll push up my daisies more happy:D

[Dicky Ticker]

In my old grandads words-------"They'll be shining a torch up my 4rse to see if my hat is on straight next"
Do think some of it is unnecessarily intrusive

[Reeder]

In my old grandads words-------"They'll be shining a torch up my 4rse to see if my hat is on straight next"
Do think some of it is unnecessarily intrusive

But how does it effect you?
I doubt it does at all so why does it matter? I'd rather them have accurate information.

[Geodude]

But how does it effect you?
I doubt it does at all so why does it matter? I'd rather them have accurate information.
My sisters a social researcher and is worried about the effect that wrong/missed census information will have on her field.




ps can we have the fun reeder back now please cos the serious one makes me :(

[Bibio]

But how does it effect you?
I doubt it does at all so why does it matter? I'd rather them have accurate information.

it affects all of us Reeder as they will give any UK/EU based company access to the records. do you for one minuet think that the UK government will use the data to provide better services?

the government already know who stays where and who works. apart from the illegal immigrants and crooks.

[Dicky Ticker]

My beliefs are mine and of what interest they could be to anybody else seems pointless to me.Religion is a personal thing to the individual and providing nobody is trying to force it upon me I am happy-----Please note I didn't use the word religious expressing my beliefs
It may have an affect if they find out for instance that more than 50% of the population is Muslim, would that make this a Muslim country ?

[Bibio]

My beliefs are mine and of what interest they could be to anybody else seems pointless to me.

+1

[fenjer]

I've not even had a form to fill in yet...

Perhaps they already know...

*worried*

[metalangel]

I just noticed this on the Census FAQ:


[/URL]26. What if I don't speak English or Welsh?

If English or Welsh is not your main language you will be able to:

Download or request a translation booklet containing guidance and a sample questionnaire in any of more than 50 languages through online help at [url]www.census.gov.uk (http://forums.sv650.org/26)
Online help will be open from 4 March 2011.

Request a translation booklet or seek further help and advice through the census helpline
The census helpline will be open from 4 March 2011.

If you can't read English, can't read the advice on ordering a translation, can you? :smt037

[Reeder]

it affects all of us Reeder as they will give any UK/EU based company access to the records. do you for one minuet think that the UK government will use the data to provide better services?

the government already know who stays where and who works. apart from the illegal immigrants and crooks.

Deep down inside me somewhere I do actually believe they'll try and improve services based on these details, yes.

My beliefs are mine and of what interest they could be to anybody else seems pointless to me.Religion is a personal thing to the individual and providing nobody is trying to force it upon me I am happy-----Please note I didn't use the word religious expressing my beliefs
It may have an affect if they find out for instance that more than 50% of the population is Muslim, would that make this a Muslim country ?

That's quite a narrow minded and perhaps selfish view though. Everyone needs to know the beliefs and thoughts of others in order to try and improve things.

How will anything ever get better if we don't give it the best chance possible?

Even if it all gets wasted I'd at least be happy knowing they had the oppotunity to do something decent with their research and then I could be genuinely ****ed off.

[SoulKiss]

That's quite a narrow minded and perhaps selfish view though. Everyone needs to know the beliefs and thoughts of others in order to try and improve things.

Why should ANY public money be spent on ANY religion?

Hence why will this bring improvement

[Reeder]

To improve people's quality of life?

[thulfi]

Why should ANY public money be spent on ANY religion?

Hence why will this bring improvement

Because if 30% of your population was Christian, 30% Muslim and 30% Jew, you would want to build a few churches, mosques, synagogues, so those that follow whatever they follow have a place of communal worship, which will help increase their social well-being and so a better quality of life.

[SoulKiss]

To improve people's quality of life?

People can talk to their invisible friend(s) at their own expense.

[Reeder]

I appreciate that I dont really believe in anything inparticular to be classed as a religon, but I'm not too narrow minded to realise that other people do and it would benfit us all if they can practise what makes them happy.

[SoulKiss]

Yeah, and they can pay for it themselves

[thulfi]

Yeah, and they can pay for it themselves

if 30% of your population was Christian, 30% Muslim and 30% Jew, you would want to build a few churches, mosques, synagogues,.

Surely they would be through their taxes? And shouldn't governments spend money on their population to improve their quality of life, be that health, education, social life etc?

[grimey121uk]

If tax payers money is spent on religion then surely they are discriminating against non believers like myself, what will they buy me

[irons]

Deep down inside me somewhere I do actually believe they'll try and improve services based on these details, yes.

Course they wont, because of the debt we are in all they have done and will do is make cuts imo. Improving service's mostly requires cash and they have just wasted 480 million on this census. Its intrusive and not needed.

mines in the bin but each to their own

[The Idle Biker]

I never filled in the last one, waited for a reminder, it never happened. Waited for a summons, never happened. Waited for a fine never happened. Waited for my voting card, it came. Waited for my council tax bill, of couse it came. Waited for Judge Dred to turn up or at least some kind of civil service jobsworth letter, nothing happened.
WTF do they do with the info? If Govt would just explain why this is needed or why they can't get what they need form the plethora of other data they have on the population I might be moved, but as of now, mines filed in the bin too. ahhhh that feels better now I've confessed.

[SoulKiss]

If tax payers money is spent on religion then surely they are discriminating against non believers like myself, what will they buy me

Hey, if we put down biker maybe we can get a tank of fuel and a set of tyres a year.

Maybe free road-tax and cheaper insurance?

[grimey121uk]

Hey, if we put down biker maybe we can get a tank of fuel and a set of tyres a year.

Maybe free road-tax and cheaper insurance?

I like your thinking,
Subsidised lightsabers ;)

[WeegieBlue]

If tax payers money is spent on religion then surely they are discriminating against non believers like myself, what will they buy me

If you stay fit and healthy all your life, and never need to rely on the services of a fire engine or an ambulance, would you expect a refund of some tax too?

[Reeder]

If you stay fit and healthy all your life, and never need to rely on the services of a fire engine or an ambulance, would you expect a refund of some tax too?

+1 - Good comment WeegieBlue

Your arguments are invalid.
This has just turned into useless drivvel again.

Over and out.

[Ed]

...or if you don't have kids should you get a tax break as you're not creating burdens on the resource available?

I flatly refuse to believe that any of this nonsense will improve anything.

[TamSV]

Filled mine in tonight. Didn't see anything in there that offended me. As far as I can see the state already holds the majority of that information anyway and, as most of it has at some point been left on the train or stolen from the passenger seat of unsecured vehicles, it could hardly be considered secret anymore. ;)

[grimey121uk]

If you stay fit and healthy all your life, and never need to rely on the services of a fire engine or an ambulance, would you expect a refund of some tax too?

I made a fair point why should I get less than others based on my beliefs, even though I pay my fair share of tax

[Messie]

I think it may even work out in favour of those with no religious beliefs.

Schooling, for example. If a certain amount of money is to be set aside for faith schools, but the census indicates that there are not that many people of a particular faith in the area, then the money can be chanelled into other schools. It's not just schools though; many services have aspects which reflect people's beliefs. Churches are NOT sate funded, so no money will go towards funding any branch of invisible friend worship

[SoulKiss]

...or if you don't have kids should you get a tax break as you're not creating burdens on the resource available?

Yep, I fully believe it.

As a married man with no kids and a decent but nor great wage I am entitled to nothing yet pump money into the system.

Maybe an extra something in my pension would be the actual answer.

[Messie]

This from the Humanist Society, puts the case clearly as to why, if you are not religious, you should say so on the census. If you don't actively state you are non religious, they will assume you ARE.

http://census-campaign.org.uk/what-is-happening/why-does-it-matter/

In my opinion, it DOES matter tat we answer the questions truthfully and accurately

[yorkie_chris]

...or if you don't have kids should you get a tax break as you're not creating burdens on the resource available?

I flatly refuse to believe that any of this nonsense will improve anything.

But neither are you creating other productive, tax paying citizens who will add to the pot...

It won't improve anything but it will give future historians something to think about.
Even if they do completely misinterpret it and really think people believed more in a film from the 70s and not spot that it's a general p*ss take out of the census system and a cynical attitude towards religion among a large proportion of the population.

[Ed]

...and a cynical atitude to government. Hey our future historians and social scientists might even find this forum or Facebook someplace and realise what's going on:D