No really, this is a serious debate. I'm a bit disappointed that you've taken this down into the gutter from the beginning, unless you're just starting some banter between us.
No, seriously, I really thought this was a joke. So I was preparing for some archnemesising.
...
Awkward
.I personally think that you, like many posters, have serious oversights regarding the function of the test. Serenity is not about looking like a cold mask and not spreading panic. Its a rather idiotic analogy you made, as were many of your other examples. The purpose of the serenity exercise is to help her maintain inner calm which you would know is essential to mastering saidar if you'd paid attention to the series. As I pointed out Graendal almost lost saidar due to panic and that is what needs to be prevented in a crisis. It's about being surrounded at dumai wells and channeling with calm and not becoming hysterical and running all over the place, and losing the ability to hold the power.
You need look no further than the Seanchan attack on the White Tower to see that the test does not do what you think it does. I needn't remind you that the Captain-General of the Green Ajah - who passed the test - was flailing around like a headless chicken. The most competent woman there was Egwene, and she hasn't passed the test.
As for the Taim comment, its untrue and stupid. Sometimes a greater goal is present that supercedes an indiviual. Anyone of any important rank whose ever commanded people will tell you that.
And what greater goal is there in ignoring your responsibilities or human suffering in order to obey the voices in your head?
The purpose of the test is to prove that a woman can function under stress. The series has provided tons of examples where this is essential in an aes sedai. And anyway, you miss the point just like Nynaeve did. Its not a test to see what you would do in a situation! Its a test for you to weave while under stress. Your judgment is a non-issue, but your skills with saidar certainly are. Finding a deeper meaning in this test is like finding a deeper meaning in a driving test. They just want to see you drive the car. Don't bitch and whine if you fail because you object to the philosophy of the test and take the car for a wild spin, claiming that you were rushing to help an injured dog
just do the damn test like they want. When you have the shawl you can run off and help children, or shield men, or become a darkfriend. Whatever...
just do the damn test like they want. When you have the shawl you can run off and help children, or shield men, or become a darkfriend. Whatever...Again, this notion fails because of the whole memory erasing. A more accurate analogy would be, say, being the only one capable of saving the city if you arrive on the other side of town within the next five minutes. But a voice in your head keeps saying "don't pass the speed limit, come to a complete stop at that corner, be steadfast." The tests do the opposite of what you claim. It claims women who are willing to ignore the greater goal to fulfill their selfish ambitions.
Need I remind you in one of Egwene's Acceptance tests, she was given the choice between keeping the Dragon Reborn from being turned to the Shadow, or jumping through the phantom arches. So what is this greater goal that warrants giving the saviour of the world to Shai'tan?
The first rule of being a ninja is "do no harm". Unless you intend to do harm, then do lots of harm.
~Master Splinter
Victorious in Bergioyn's legendary 'Reverse Mafia'. *MySmiley*
~Master Splinter
Victorious in Bergioyn's legendary 'Reverse Mafia'. *MySmiley*
Nynaeve's stupidity and the test for Aes Sedai
- 07/12/2010 08:27:05 PM
4596 Views
Way to totally misunderstand the chapter
- 07/12/2010 09:39:08 PM
1885 Views
I second this
- 07/12/2010 10:10:24 PM
1548 Views
your bold is stuck. *NM*
- 07/12/2010 10:21:22 PM
669 Views
On the whole, the test is innappropriate IMO
- 07/12/2010 09:40:08 PM
1665 Views
nice post
- 08/12/2010 09:20:02 AM
1444 Views
Isn't it implied
- 08/12/2010 02:16:58 PM
1223 Views
no they were students together
- 08/12/2010 05:33:17 PM
1159 Views
No, Lanfear was older than Lews
- 08/12/2010 07:21:45 PM
1382 Views
Where on earth did you get that from?
- 08/12/2010 08:41:16 PM
1308 Views
Re: Where on earth did you get that from?
- 09/12/2010 10:27:20 AM
1325 Views
Re: Where on earth did you get that from?
- 09/12/2010 03:56:32 PM
1432 Views
I always got the impression that they were together for quiet some time
- 09/12/2010 04:34:23 PM
1354 Views
Re: I always got the impression that they were together for quiet some time
- 09/12/2010 05:43:40 PM
1318 Views
I think skill with Saidar is easy enough to judge as it's a simple matter to see the skill
- 08/12/2010 05:37:27 PM
1242 Views
I think the greens should have been on Nynaeve's side as well
- 08/12/2010 06:18:16 PM
1345 Views
Problem is they are Aes Sedai and thus more likley to be political rather than rational! *NM*
- 08/12/2010 08:52:00 PM
909 Views
Re: nice post
- 09/12/2010 01:23:50 PM
1443 Views
On the matter of strength
- 09/12/2010 08:51:36 PM
1253 Views
Strength was "prized" in the AoL ... but lack of strength was not a negative
- 12/12/2010 01:41:08 AM
1215 Views
Yes. How dare she not conform with every other fucking mindless stupid WT Aes Sedai *NM*
- 07/12/2010 11:36:52 PM
740 Views
Status is not an end in itself. *NM*
- 07/12/2010 11:52:37 PM
622 Views
They're not really stupid...
- 08/12/2010 01:00:20 AM
1343 Views
Not saying they are. It's just that most AS that we've come across
- 08/12/2010 02:20:05 AM
1046 Views
They're constantly outsmarted by a teenage girl that has spent most of her life in a damn farm.
- 08/12/2010 10:32:50 AM
1301 Views
Bah...
- 09/12/2010 10:56:24 AM
1346 Views
I did not say all Aes Sedai are stupid, I said all WT Aes Sedai are stupid.
- 10/12/2010 09:19:52 AM
1311 Views
You are not only wrong in your call,
- 08/12/2010 04:39:44 AM
1554 Views
Re: You are not only wrong in your call,
- 08/12/2010 09:13:37 AM
1555 Views
if that is the purpose of the test
- 08/12/2010 01:34:45 PM
1248 Views
minor disagreement
- 08/12/2010 05:27:51 PM
1348 Views
Yes, but you can be not-panicked and not calm of body
- 08/12/2010 06:38:56 PM
1180 Views
not really the same thing as what the AS are getting at though
- 08/12/2010 09:02:05 PM
1822 Views
that's retarded, imo
- 09/12/2010 12:21:27 AM
1341 Views
Oh it's totally stupid!
- 09/12/2010 04:37:14 PM
1303 Views
No I know why she took the job. I just don't understand why she got it
- 09/12/2010 04:52:34 PM
1249 Views
I think Elaida just smarmed up at the right time, Morgase was very young then
- 09/12/2010 05:52:29 PM
1355 Views
Oh. Well, I'm sorry then.
- 08/12/2010 06:48:50 PM
1290 Views
I think it has already been established that the purpose of the test is to ensure that
- 08/12/2010 09:59:18 PM
1050 Views
Yeah, but how does that work?
- 08/12/2010 10:24:35 PM
1191 Views
Somewhere in the sub-conscious they know what they're doing is important to them.
- 09/12/2010 12:20:47 AM
1322 Views
Even so, it wouldn't work.
- 09/12/2010 03:32:55 AM
1238 Views
I think if this thread has established anything it's that the test is severely flawed. *NM*
- 09/12/2010 09:24:48 PM
606 Views
Another headless chicken example.
- 09/12/2010 12:30:02 AM
1218 Views
the headless chicken is just such a lovely metaphor for panic
*NM*
- 09/12/2010 04:48:11 AM
549 Views
*NM*
- 09/12/2010 04:48:11 AM
549 Views
Re: Oh. Well, I'm sorry then.
- 09/12/2010 12:07:15 PM
1293 Views
You seem to have no grasp of the difference between "politic" and "right"
- 09/12/2010 02:59:50 AM
1396 Views
Re: You seem to have no grasp of the difference between "politic" and "right"
- 09/12/2010 09:26:21 AM
1259 Views
That's not the dilema
- 09/12/2010 05:23:19 PM
1462 Views
One of those few times where I completely agree with Cannoli. Give over Sidious. You're wrong.
- 09/12/2010 09:55:20 PM
1238 Views
That's not what it's really about
- 10/12/2010 05:44:12 AM
1215 Views
This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil.
- 09/12/2010 03:46:31 AM
1253 Views
Re: This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil.
- 09/12/2010 09:40:09 AM
1307 Views
Re: This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil.
- 09/12/2010 02:04:02 PM
1615 Views
Re: This test, even by its usual abysmal standards, was idiotic. It bordered on being evil.
- 09/12/2010 11:26:40 AM
1313 Views
One of those few times where I completely agree with fionwe1987. Give over Sidious. You're wrong.
- 10/12/2010 03:53:25 PM
1321 Views

*NM*