Census - completed late

[Pulcinella]

I went for No religion (or whatever the wording was).
I contemplated 'Other' to see where that took me next, but then couldn't be bothered.

Like others, it would seem, I guess I'm an agnostic/humanist with a strong Christian culture/heritage.

[french frank]

ILike others, it would seem, I guess I'm an agnostic/humanist with a strong Christian culture/heritage.

The answers could skew the results quite a bit if people with a 'strong Muslim (&c) culture/heritage' declared themselves as 'Muslim (&c)'. I didn't see 'no religion' and in any case am so uncertain I don't think I could be as definite as that. It said the question was voluntary so I didn't volunteer.

[Padraig]

... interesting, that. We pondered too. We're both atheists, but we're 'lapsed Catholic' atheists - and 'culturally' that certainly signifies...

.

Did you have a question which asked what religion you were brought up in? I was comfortable saying 'Catholic' to that question, whereas I did not answer the one which asked what religion I considered myself to be. Nor did I admit to 'None'. Yes, Bryn, 'Once a Catholic' . . .'

[oddoneout]

I lied about that and said I had GCSEs, they being close enough to O levels. Overall my answers were near enough correct, though I wish now that I'd ticked 'Christian' as I regard myself as culturally Christian.

Was that a quirk of the online version? The paper Q included GCSE, O and CSE, and had a similar selection of alternatives for A level. As it happens I have GCSE and (modern) AS level, as well as the traditional age related O and A levels, as that was the only way I could continue with Adult Education French; it was also of value in my role as a High School governor.

[Petrushka]

Was that a quirk of the online version? The paper Q included GCSE, O and CSE, and had a similar selection of alternatives for A level. As it happens I have GCSE and (modern) AS level, as well as the traditional age related O and A levels, as that was the only way I could continue with Adult Education French; it was also of value in my role as a High School governor.

Now retired, the questions on qualifications, in my case gained 50 years ago, were, like the qualifications themselves, completely irrelevant. I had trouble remembering what they were.

[oddoneout]

The guidance given for such Covid inflicted situations was to give your answer as it stood on March 21. .

There was nothing in the info with the paper version and having got settled I couldn't be bothered to relocate and fire up the computer to see if there was anything of use online.
Interesting your later comment about your house. The Victorian terrace I lived in some years ago was completed by one builder in stages over the years, and one end terrace had another house squeezed between it and the next one down, which itself had been a semi with the adjoining house at right angles. Result one small wedge shaped house(the elderly occupant of which had known the niece of the original builder, hence finding out the history) in the middle and interesting backgarden/right of way and access configuration. Further up the road 2 larger houses originally semi-det had an eight house terrace attached in two stages, but they were over the passage houses so no need for access over a neighbour's garden.

[french frank]

Was that a quirk of the online version? The paper Q included GCSE, O and CSE, and had a similar selection of alternatives for A level.

Maybe I was a bit hasty - I didn't see all those so perhaps didn't do myself educational justice: a few GCSEs and NVQ level 1 (Carpentry and Joinery) a couple of decades after university

[Serial_Apologist]

I lied about that and said I had GCSEs, they being close enough to O levels. Overall my answers were near enough correct, though I wish now that I'd ticked 'Christian' as I regard myself as culturally Christian.

I suppose I could have put "Christian agnostic" - which is, I believe, what Vaughan Williams is thought by many to have been, but there are so many contradictions, aren't there? The one thing I retain from my Christian cultural background is a love for those rather high church rituals that help focus the mind on the present, though the kind of music associated - Howells and Rubbra as sung in Mediaeval cathedrals, along with the best of what Vaughan Williams rescued from Victorian hymnals for joining in purposes - has largely been sacrificed along with any imperative to persuade, post Alpha Course standardisation presumably, if Sunday Worship is anything to go by. Philosophically, if not morally, I question the entire basis of Chritianity.

[french frank]

Philosophically, if not morally, I question the entire basis of Chritianity.

Maybe, but morally the original precepts seem fine. Not all religionists or a-religionists advocate them.

[Serial_Apologist]

Maybe, but morally the original precepts seem fine. Not all religionists or a-religionists advocate them.

Most of them, yes, but they're predicated on a model of human nature I find objectionable and self-contradictory - like most religions, evolved to exonerate and serve the ruling order and the status quo.

[french frank]

Most of them, yes, but they're predicated on a model of human nature I find objectionable and self-contradictory - like most religions, evolved to exonerate and serve the ruling order and the status quo.

For another day! That's why I specified 'the original precepts'. The evolutionary baggage is usually a bad thing, not least because of those who start laying down the rules.

[Anastasius]

That's why I did mine on Saturday night. Given the track record of government IT projects I fully expected it to crash on the day itself and the fact that the website was open almost a month prior I rather think the government did too.

Old news. I think you'll find that most Govt websites these days are designed pretty well to cope for volume.

[Anastasius]

I agree with the comments re total disinterest regarding actual degrees/subjects or at what level.

And so, in the obvious spirit of the census, answered the following:

What's your job? Chief bottle washer

What does your job entail ? Washing bottles

Religion: Jain...hah, got you there. You thought I'd say Jedi.

Gender: Male

What gender do you consider yourself or somesuch question : Last time I looked down I was still male.

[ardcarp]

I haven't read all the posts, but the galante Mrs Ardcarp filled in the paper version (which we requested) on behalf of the three people currently in our household. Tongues firmly in cheeks throughout. It went into the post today.

[Serial_Apologist]

What gender do you consider yourself or somesuch question : Last time I looked down I was still male.

Last time I looked down, there was too much dead ground in the way!