Understanding The Man, Woman, Camera, And Tv

Person, Woman, Man, Camera, TV is a quote from former US President Donald Trump, who, in 2018, boasted about how well he did on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test. The quote led to a surge of jokes and memes, with people poking fun at Trump's ability to remember five things in order. The quote has since been emblazoned on t-shirts and become late-night TV fodder.

The quote's origin: Donald Trump's cognitive test

In 2020, then-President Donald Trump appeared on Fox News and bragged about his results on a cognitive exam he took in 2018. He specifically mentioned that he was able to recall five words in order: "person, woman, man, camera, TV." The clip spread on Twitter, with people expressing shock at Trump boasting about his ability to remember five things in order. This led to a surge of jokes and memes about the quote.

Trump's mention of the cognitive test was likely an attempt to fend off criticism of his age and acuity. However, physicians have noted that the test Trump took, the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), is not an IQ test or a test of intelligence. Instead, it is a screening test designed for patients who may be exhibiting symptoms of cognitive decline.

Trump has repeatedly brought up the cognitive test, even as recently as 2024, claiming that he "aced" it. However, Ziad Nasreddine, the Canadian neurologist who invented the MoCA, has stated that the words Trump claimed to recall ("person, woman, man, camera, TV") would never have been included in the test, as it does not feature closely related words. Nasreddine also noted that the test is designed to measure different aspects of brain function, including concentration, calculation, memory, basic math, language, and executive function.

Trump's cognitive abilities have come under increasing scrutiny, especially as he is now the oldest candidate to run for president in the 2024 election. His speeches and public appearances have raised concerns about his mental sharpness, with observers noting rambling, garbled words, incomplete thoughts, and a penchant for rambling. Trump himself has tried to address these concerns, claiming that his rambling is a deliberate strategy called the "weave," which he describes as "brilliant." However, mental health experts have expressed worry about his cognitive fitness, noting patterns in his speech and behaviour that are commonly seen among people in cognitive decline.

The test's purpose: to detect cognitive decline

The phrase "man woman camera tv" is a quote from former US President Donald Trump, who mentioned it in an interview with Fox News in 2020 while discussing a cognitive test he took in 2018. The test in question was the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, or MoCA, and it is designed to screen patients who may be experiencing symptoms of cognitive decline.

Trump's description of the test included recalling a list of five words: "person, woman, man, camera, TV." He emphasised that the test was difficult and that he had "aced" it, stating:

> "I think it was 30, 35 questions…. They always show you the first one, like a giraffe, a tiger, or this, or that, and then: a whale. 'Which one is the whale?' Okay. And that goes on for three or four [questions], and then it gets harder, and harder, and harder."

Trump's claim that the test included identifying drawings of animals was contradicted by the host, Chris Wallace, who stated that he had taken the test himself and that it involved simple questions.

The MoCA test is intended to assess different aspects of brain function, including memory, basic math, language, and executive function. According to Ziad Nasreddine, the Canadian neurologist who invented the MoCA test, the words used in the test are selected based on years of scientific study and would not include closely related words like "woman" and "man," or "camera" and "TV."

The purpose of the test is to detect cognitive decline or impairment. It presents multiple tripwires to help physicians make a diagnosis. Nasreddine has emphasised that it is a serious and scientifically validated test, expressing pain at seeing it ridiculed in the media.

The test's format: recall five random words

The tests format: recall five random words.

The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is a screening test for patients who may be experiencing symptoms of cognitive decline. The test is designed to assess different aspects of brain function, including memory, concentration, calculation, language, and executive function. One of the tasks in the MoCA test involves recalling a list of five random words that are not easily linked together. This task is designed to evaluate the patient's short-term memory and ability to concentrate.

The format of the test typically involves the patient being presented with a list of five unrelated words and then asked to recall them after a short period of time, usually five minutes. The specific words used in the test are carefully selected and are not related in terms of semantics or theme. This makes the task more challenging and helps to assess the patient's memory and cognitive abilities.

In the case of "person, woman, man, camera, TV," these five words gained notoriety when former US President Donald Trump mentioned them during an interview with Fox News in 2020. Trump claimed that he had "aced" the MoCA test and that recalling these five words was a particularly difficult part of the exam. He described the test as having three parts: easy initial questions, more difficult memory questions (such as recalling the five words), and finally, even more challenging questions that require recalling the five words again after a delay of 10-20 minutes.

However, Ziad Nasreddine, the Canadian neurologist who invented the MoCA test, clarified that the specific words "person, woman, man, camera, TV" would never have been used together in the test. He explained that the words chosen for the memory task are selected through years of scientific study and are designed to be random and unrelated. The purpose of this task is to assess the patient's ability to remember a set of unrelated words, which can help identify potential cognitive impairments.

The test's ridicule: jokes and memes

The tests, created to help, have become a source of ridicule, jokes, and memes. The "Person. Woman. Man. Camera. TV" test, for example, was designed to detect cognitive decline, but it has been mocked and turned into a joke by many, including former US President Donald Trump, who claimed he "aced" it. The test has been misrepresented and reduced to a punchline, with Trump's comments being a prime example of how it has been twisted and used for entertainment.

Memes and jokes about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) personality test are also prevalent online, with entire subreddits and Discord servers dedicated to sharing humorous content related to the test and its 16 personality types. While some of these jokes may be light-hearted and fun, it is important to remember that they can also trivialize the serious purpose of cognitive tests and the value they hold for medical professionals.

The MBTI jokes often take the form of "Serenity Prayers" for each personality type, highlighting common traits in an exaggerated and humorous way. For example, the prayer for the INTP type is, "Lord, help me be less independent, but let me do it my way," poking fun at the perceived independence and individualism of this personality type. Similarly, the prayer for the ENFP type is, "God, help me keep my mind on one thing - Look, a bird - at a time," alluding to the stereotype that ENFPs are easily distracted and have a short attention span.

While the MBTI and other cognitive tests can provide valuable insights, they also have limitations, and it is important to approach them with a critical eye. However, the line between playful banter and ridicule should be respected, especially when it comes to online communities discussing these tests. As Ziad Nasreddine, the neurologist who invented the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, expressed: "It sometimes pains me to see that it is ridiculed in the media."

The test's accuracy: Trump's claims are disputed

In 2020, former US President Donald Trump claimed that he "aced" a cognitive test, stating that he found it "easy". Trump's description of the test included recalling a series of five words: "person, woman, man, camera, TV". This statement was made in an attempt to fend off criticism regarding his age and acuity.

However, Trump's claims have been disputed by medical professionals. Jonathan Reiner, a cardiologist and professor of medicine and surgery, stated that the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is "not an IQ test. It's not a test of intelligence". Ziad Nasreddine, the Canadian neurologist who invented the MoCA, also refuted Trump's description of the test, stating that it would not include closely related words like "woman" and "man", or "camera" and "TV". Nasreddine also emphasised that the test is "a serious test, and it’s scientifically validated," and expressed disappointment at the ridicule it received in the media.

Trump's claim that he aced the cognitive test has also been met with scepticism due to his history of making false statements. A fact-check of a foreign policy interview conducted by Trump revealed at least 11 false claims. This includes repeating a false claim that there were no terrorist attacks during his presidency, when in fact, there were multiple. Trump also falsely asserted that he had been to Gaza, a claim that his campaign spokesperson could not provide any details about and that media outlets have found no evidence to support.

The accuracy of Trump's cognitive test claims is further brought into question by a study that assessed the impact of labelling his false tweets as "disputed". The study found that labelling Trump's tweets as "disputed" did little to change the beliefs of Trump voters, and in some cases, even reinforced their belief in misinformation. This highlights the challenges of correcting misinformation and the potential for fact-checking labels to have unintended consequences.

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