[Ipg-smz] The U.S. Census Bureau pays me $100 for some UI feedback

[Joe Stanganelli]

FWIW, when I worked the decennial Census, we were expressly instructed repeatedly that the enumerators had to ask ALL of the questions WORD FOR WORD -- even if the answer seemed plain as day. And that you put down whatever answer the person gave without arguing.

If an "obvious" male answered "female" to the gender question (or vice versa), we were to put what they said. Period.

Similarly, we were told (this is the actual example we were given) that if a person said that their race was "Martian," we were to check the "Other" box and write "MARTIAN".

Strangely, the only exception to this was in regard to Hispanics. In 2010, the decennial Census had a question as to Hispanic status separate from the race question -- and then for the race question, had a multitude of options *except* Hispanic. In effect, the 2010 decennial Census determined (and this was expressly passed down to us from up on high) that "Hispanic" status and "race" were two completely separate things.

Accordingly, for the occasions someone answered the race question that they were "Hispanic," we were actually expressly trained and instructed to gently ask/nudge them to choose between White/Caucasian or Black/African-American. Only after a steadfast and continued refusal to do so on their part were we to relent and write "HISPANIC" in the "Other" field.

Needless to say, the non-black Hispanics we interviewed were nonplussed when, essentially, asked to identify themselves as "White".

________________________________________
From: Ipg-smz <ipg-smz-bounces at netpress.org> on behalf of Phil Shapiro <pshapiro at his.com>
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 4:09 PM
To: ipg-smz
Subject: Re: [Ipg-smz] The U.S. Census Bureau pays me $100 for some UI feedback


Yes, I have no issue with gender questions on the census. The questions need to extend beyond M/F, though.  People who are nonbinary do not
need one more insult to their identity.





________________________________
From: "kgagne" <kgagne at gamebits.net>
To: "ipg-smz" <ipg-smz at netpress.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2018 3:59:56 PM
Subject: Re: [Ipg-smz] The U.S. Census Bureau pays me $100 for some UI feedback

But not transgender health issues?

On Wed, Sep 12, 2018, at 3:56 PM, Christine Hall wrote:
> For the Census Bureau, gender questions are legitimate. We need to know
> how many males and females there are for a variety of reasons, many of
> which are connected to funds to be allocated to programs addressing
> women's issues, as well as planning, etc.
>
> Christine Hall
> Publisher & Editor
> FOSS Force: Keeping tech free
> http://fossforce.com
>
> On 09/12/2018 03:14 PM, Phil Shapiro wrote:
> >    This morning the U.S. Census Bureau paid me $100 for some UI
> > feedback.  The person there told me, "I didn't design the web site, so I
> > want you to be very candid in your feedback."
> >
> >       Me: Okay
> >
> >        Her: "What is your overall impression of the web site?"
> >
> >         Me: It totally, totally sucks. Did you folks use Crayola crayons
> > to build a mock-up? If this web site were designed by middle school
> > students,
> > I'd say it would be a good first attempt.  Do you want me to tell you why?
> >
> >          Her: Yes.
> >
> >         So then I patiently and kindly explained about all the
> > gratuitous and un-needed elements on the web site.
> >
> >          Then when I reached the Male/Female radio buttons on one of
> > their surveys, I could barely take it any longer.
> >
> >           "Just curious, did you folks get your web design degrees at
> > Patriarchy University?"
> >
> >             I was fully expecting to read about the 3/5th of a person,
> > but apparently the Census Bureau heard about the Emancipation Proclamation.
> >
> >             I concluded by telling them, "I appreciate your asking me
> > for feedback. I'm hopeful that improvements can be made
> > before the decennial census. You folks have your work cut out for you."
> >
> >              They paid me my money and I gleefully ordered a pizza.
> >
> >                    phil
> >
> >
> > --
> > --
> > Phil Shapiro, pshapiro at his.com
> > http://www.his.com/pshapiro/briefbio.html
> > http://www.twitter.com/philshapiro
> > http://www.his.com/pshapiro/stories.menu.html
> >
> > "Wisdom begins with wonder." - Socrates
> > "Learning happens thru gentleness."
> > "We must reinvent a future free of blinders so that we can choose from
> > real options."  David Suzuki
> >
> >
>
> --
> Ipg-smz mailing list
> Ipg-smz at netpress.org
> http://netpress.org/mailman/listinfo/ipg-smz_netpress.org

--
Ipg-smz mailing list
Ipg-smz at netpress.org
http://netpress.org/mailman/listinfo/ipg-smz_netpress.org

--
--
Phil Shapiro, pshapiro at his.com
http://www.his.com/pshapiro/briefbio.html
http://www.twitter.com/philshapiro
http://www.his.com/pshapiro/stories.menu.html

"Wisdom begins with wonder." - Socrates
"Learning happens thru gentleness."
"We must reinvent a future free of blinders so that we can choose from real options."  David Suzuki