Yippee!! My Census Form Is Here.

I knew there was many "sides" to you, Shiney, and now the census has proved it.

You're right, Clueless, there is a lot of money in data. I used to work for a Global Advertising Firm and they used to buy marketing data to run mailing campaigns for clients. I remember there was a big blow-up because they'd bought a chunk of data about certain classes of people regarding life style, income, and what was regularly bought by them region by region nationwide. They'd spent £25,000 on what turned out of be out of date, incorrect information regarding mailing addresses etc. They decided to do it themselves, formed a department with the company, did a proper professional job and started selling the information not just within the UK but globally. Our details are everywhere to the point that if people knew exactly where and what they'd have a heart attack!

 

Although I deliberately fill in these type of forms just for fun the results are no less peculiar when I fill things in seriously. I once took a Psychometric Personality Assessment (15FQ) that is used by large organisations in evaluating potentional managers. I answered every question as truthfully as possible and the resulting analysis was quite interesting. As the analysis concluded that I presented two completely different personalities, it suggested that it be used in conjunction with other methods of assessment.

 

Oh gosh I have really enjoyed reading this thread... Even ours arrived today.... :D
What was it Max B said.. " I wanna tell you a story"...

 

OK Steve..

 

That's very cynical of you Steve!!! I get the idea you don't trust our "wonderful" government to run a census of such "importance" - good for you!!
I got my census form today and it's lying on the lounge table still unfilled. I had other things more important to do and it takes lesser priority than making a cup of tea. I'll get around to it eventually, I guess.
I took one of those tests in the 90's, Shiney, although I was already a manager. I think the company wanted to know what kind of managers it had!! I was classified as a high risk taker, would work with a team but preferred to take decisions on my own. I still kept my job though!!
Chopper, I didn't know you could charm snakes!! Personally I would have left the cat puke on the form - but then again they'll probably get a lot worse enclosed with the form from the far corners of the UK. I agree with you it is a waste of money. It used to be used by a select and small number of government departments - now everybody wants the statistics to build their own little empire.
Maybe I'll fill it out tomorrow - and then again.

 

The part where it asked me when I last worked I put "I'm too old and can't remember".