The person likes the census

Who loves census night?
I do!
I like when we all have to participate in an activity on the same day. Like elections and grand final day. It makes me feel nice and connected, like Ben Lee says, we're all in his together!

Say, isn't the reason that Mary and Joseph were out of town looking for a place to stay the night baby Jesus came along because they had to go back to their home towns for the census? Something like that. Gee, I'm glad census technology has improved because traveling for the census would have been a total bummer. I wonder if they hat to go stand in a big barn while someone did a headcount. Boring.

Anyway. I decided to fill out my census form by hand, rather than doing it on the interweb. More satisfying, I think. I rushed home after Tuesday night trivia (Mike Gatting have been carryover champs for nine weeks now) in order to make sure that I filled it out in time. The way the questions are worded had me chuckling away as I filled out the boxes, particularly the continual references to 'the person'. Does the person usually live at this address? they asked. Yes, census, the person sure does. It made me feel like I was interviewing myself.

Some of the questions made me wish you could provide free text.
Here are some of the things I would have said.
Question 22: Does the person ever need someone to help them, or be with them, for communications activities?
Not technically, no, but it would be nice sometimes.
Question 23: What are the reasons for the need for assistance?
Well, you know how it is. Sometimes you just want someone to talk to, right? Thank goodness for the internet!
Question 48: In the last week, did the person spend time doing unpaid domestic work for their household?
Well, no, but that's just because I've been a little bit lazy, not because there are other people doing it.

Yeah, census night is great. I can't wait until the data is released!