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alwaysinasnit

(5,066 posts)
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 08:05 PM Mar 2020

Has anyone else gotten their Census "invitation?"

Just got mine and had a few observations. First, the letter opens with an "invitation to respond to the 2020 Census" and then near the end it says the "the census is so important that your response is required by law." So much for this being an "invitation." Second, the census is using the internet to "securely collect your information." "Securely," I have my doubts given the general incompetence of this administration. Thirdly, the letter requires a response by April 1. April 1st, if memory serves, is April Fools' Day. And lastly, since today is March 13, you know, the harbinger of bad luck that is Friday the 13th, we are only given 2 1/2 weeks to respond. So, what can go wrong???

Anyway, I hope all of you out there stay safe and healthy.

38 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Has anyone else gotten their Census "invitation?" (Original Post) alwaysinasnit Mar 2020 OP
My wife filled it out after asking me my ancestry. Had I know why I would have rzemanfl Mar 2020 #1
Funny! alwaysinasnit Mar 2020 #4
Considering how close he stands to Trump, CaptYossarian Mar 2020 #12
My invitation arrived today. Haven't opened it yet. In_The_Wind Mar 2020 #2
Thanks. alwaysinasnit Mar 2020 #6
Completed and sent in about two minutes. Easy peasy..n/t monmouth4 Mar 2020 #3
Any questions that concerned/disturbed you? hlthe2b Mar 2020 #5
Yep, easiest thing I ever filled out. 2 min max CurtEastPoint Mar 2020 #7
Did you receive the 'invitation' to respond online before you received the paper version? Brother Buzz Mar 2020 #22
Many people get the invitation first choie Mar 2020 #34
What do they advise those to do (for those who don't have internet access)? hlthe2b Mar 2020 #8
It only says that if you are unable to complete the questionnaire online, we will send you a paper alwaysinasnit Mar 2020 #10
Thanks. CaptYossarian Mar 2020 #13
I think mine's is the real thing given the return address does say US Census. BTW, I had the same alwaysinasnit Mar 2020 #14
This administration is all about CaptYossarian Mar 2020 #15
+1000 alwaysinasnit Mar 2020 #16
You can complete it over the phone choie Mar 2020 #36
Yup, east to do and I was wondering why they asked what country heritage you were from mitch96 Mar 2020 #9
Good one. I think I will use "the Americas." alwaysinasnit Mar 2020 #11
Good idea. Delmette2.0 Mar 2020 #17
Haven't opened mine yet -- all mail gets quarantined here. Hermit-The-Prog Mar 2020 #18
Well, at least there is some time to respond. alwaysinasnit Mar 2020 #19
Got it, filled it out, finished gratuitous Mar 2020 #20
So if you don't have internet access, what do you do??? nt mitch96 Mar 2020 #21
Please see response #10 above. TY alwaysinasnit Mar 2020 #23
I must be blind, I don't see a #10.......... nt mitch96 Mar 2020 #24
Sorry about that. alwaysinasnit Mar 2020 #25
Still does not answer my question and thanks anyway... nt mitch96 Mar 2020 #26
I was not crazy about giving the names in the household NCDem47 Mar 2020 #27
Can you remember what info the prior Census asked for? I get the impression that this one alwaysinasnit Mar 2020 #28
Yes. NCDem47 Mar 2020 #29
Thanks. alwaysinasnit Mar 2020 #31
Reply truthfully. Grins Mar 2020 #33
Got it last week, filled it out right away mcar Mar 2020 #30
Got mine last week and threw it away SCantiGOP Mar 2020 #32
Yeah, I don't trust the online system either, and I truly don't think that ethnicity is relevant to alwaysinasnit Mar 2020 #35
Threw mine away too. They can send me the form or stop by my house. zackymilly Mar 2020 #38
I haven't received one yet. n/t Zing Zing Zingbah Mar 2020 #37

rzemanfl

(29,565 posts)
1. My wife filled it out after asking me my ancestry. Had I know why I would have
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 08:08 PM
Mar 2020

I was of 100% Fuckyoulian blood.

choie

(4,111 posts)
34. Many people get the invitation first
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 02:06 PM
Mar 2020

but even if you don't receive it, you can still complete it online or via phone.

alwaysinasnit

(5,066 posts)
10. It only says that if you are unable to complete the questionnaire online, we will send you a paper
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 08:14 PM
Mar 2020

questionnaire in a few weeks. I guess if they don't hear from you online by 04/01, then they will send the paper questionnaire.

alwaysinasnit

(5,066 posts)
14. I think mine's is the real thing given the return address does say US Census. BTW, I had the same
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 08:27 PM
Mar 2020

thought about RNC $$$ request.

CaptYossarian

(6,448 posts)
15. This administration is all about
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 08:32 PM
Mar 2020

prejudice, panic, and paranoia. The mission is to divide and conquer.

Just more dictatorial tactics from a seemingly incompetent fool.

mitch96

(13,907 posts)
9. Yup, east to do and I was wondering why they asked what country heritage you were from
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 08:12 PM
Mar 2020

I just put down Europe.... ambiguously specific
m

Delmette2.0

(4,165 posts)
17. Good idea.
Fri Mar 13, 2020, 09:06 PM
Mar 2020

Most of my great grandparents were from other countries and so was one grandfather. These are people I never met so why does it matter.

All their descendants are American.

NCDem47

(2,249 posts)
27. I was not crazy about giving the names in the household
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 01:37 PM
Mar 2020

That was the only way to complete it. It wouldn't allow you to go foward. Call me a boy scout, but I gave our names. Shoudl have said something like Wile E. Coyote or something.

alwaysinasnit

(5,066 posts)
28. Can you remember what info the prior Census asked for? I get the impression that this one
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 01:46 PM
Mar 2020

is asking for more personal information rather than just anonymous categorical types.

NCDem47

(2,249 posts)
29. Yes.
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 01:53 PM
Mar 2020

Answered online.

You put in code given to you in mailing. Assume that the system then knows your physical address.

Confirm address and if you rent or own.

Who lives there.

Their names, ethnicity (including qualifying geographic location, I just said Western European), birthdates, relationship to one another, and if they live in the household full time or part time.

That's it from what I recall. Very quick.

SCantiGOP

(13,871 posts)
32. Got mine last week and threw it away
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 02:02 PM
Mar 2020

Not about to trust them with keeping my data secure.
If you don’t respond they will send you a mail in form in 2-3 weeks.
And I have never answered their ethnicity question. First form I ever had was in college in 1980. Under ethnicity I answered “American.”

alwaysinasnit

(5,066 posts)
35. Yeah, I don't trust the online system either, and I truly don't think that ethnicity is relevant to
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 02:07 PM
Mar 2020

counting heads, which is the purported purpose of the Census.

zackymilly

(2,375 posts)
38. Threw mine away too. They can send me the form or stop by my house.
Sat Mar 14, 2020, 03:01 PM
Mar 2020

In the past I have refused to answer some of the questions, and never heard back about it.
Mostly I just gave my name and how many people lived in the house.

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