The culling theory applies to the ENTIRE population, not just Aes Sedai...
Shannow Send a noteboard - 18/12/2009 09:42:31 PM
Cadsuane tells us that when she was younger, there were more women of her strength level, but by NS, they'd begun to die off (or were killed). She says that there are a few women who are close to her in the "modern" generation, but they are few and the women below them are much more common.
This points to the general decline of the strength of Aes Sedai in the White Tower. We know that channelers are not growing weaker in general, but the Tower is for some reason.
I think that the culling theory makes sense, but not from the angle the Aes Sedai are thinking of it. They claim removing men from the gene pool has caused the decline in strength. I think, rather, that by removing a significant portion of the channeling women from the same areas generation after generation, and not adding to the subsequent generations by reproducing, the Aes Sedai have weakened the pool of potential candidates.
This is not to say that I agree that the curve should be set at 50%... I just wanted to point out a mechanism that the Tower is using that reduces the strength of their sisters in general.
This points to the general decline of the strength of Aes Sedai in the White Tower. We know that channelers are not growing weaker in general, but the Tower is for some reason.
I think that the culling theory makes sense, but not from the angle the Aes Sedai are thinking of it. They claim removing men from the gene pool has caused the decline in strength. I think, rather, that by removing a significant portion of the channeling women from the same areas generation after generation, and not adding to the subsequent generations by reproducing, the Aes Sedai have weakened the pool of potential candidates.
This is not to say that I agree that the curve should be set at 50%... I just wanted to point out a mechanism that the Tower is using that reduces the strength of their sisters in general.
RJ has commented on it himself, in interviews. Mankind has been culling the ability to channel out of themselves for 3000 years. So Forsaken strength women today are far rarer than they were 3000 years ago.
But this applies to the entire population, not just to Aes Sedai.
The One Power Bell Curve: Proof that it is not centered on 50% of the strongest channeler's strength
- 18/12/2009 08:37:55 AM
1645 Views
I always thought the curve was one sided
- 18/12/2009 01:17:32 PM
948 Views
The Curve only refers to the channeling population, not to non-channelers.
- 18/12/2009 01:56:25 PM
949 Views
I would say that your sample is flawed.
- 18/12/2009 05:02:02 PM
1043 Views
It doesn't matter...
- 18/12/2009 10:02:38 PM
883 Views
But, it sort of does.
- 18/12/2009 10:43:08 PM
954 Views
So you're saying that no modern Aes Sedai are even of average strength?
- 18/12/2009 10:51:01 PM
1088 Views
The Tower is restricted to the middle...
- 18/12/2009 05:35:03 PM
1102 Views
Two things...
- 18/12/2009 09:28:25 PM
964 Views
The culling theory...
- 18/12/2009 09:36:34 PM
894 Views
The culling theory applies to the ENTIRE population, not just Aes Sedai...
- 18/12/2009 09:42:31 PM
1018 Views
Several more things...
- 18/12/2009 11:26:19 PM
1049 Views
You don't understand your own model...
- 18/12/2009 11:38:05 PM
1069 Views
So RJ was wrong about Bell Curve distribution?
- 19/12/2009 06:03:24 PM
937 Views
So, Aviendha trumps RJ? A woman who, as late as tGS, doesn't know what she's doing with the OP?
- 19/12/2009 06:12:42 PM
916 Views
Age-Related Sample Bias
- 18/12/2009 06:41:03 PM
905 Views
I have no problem with that...but it implies that the average woman today isn't at 50% of Lanfear...
- 18/12/2009 09:46:00 PM
1025 Views
Partially agreed...
- 18/12/2009 10:13:46 PM
914 Views
Well, the Aes Sedai are the only group that we have detailed strength info about...
- 18/12/2009 10:26:48 PM
1061 Views
Sharina is AS ... she'd be dead in a few years if she hadn't gone to the Tower *NM*
- 28/12/2009 01:08:20 AM
947 Views
A thought that occured to me, and I'd like your opinion...
- 18/12/2009 07:38:29 PM
900 Views
Is it just my bad memory or is one of the wondergirls not a sparker?
- 18/12/2009 10:12:59 PM
892 Views
Easier sulution, and real example.
- 18/12/2009 10:03:20 PM
975 Views
And that is indeed the solution I feel most comfortable with...
- 18/12/2009 10:08:40 PM
930 Views
Re: And that is indeed the solution I feel most comfortable with...
- 19/12/2009 11:39:31 AM
1162 Views
Dude, Seriously?
- 18/12/2009 10:19:25 PM
909 Views
Indeed, and that's why I propose that...
- 18/12/2009 10:31:23 PM
958 Views
So RJ used two separate scales, one actual one relative, to explain the same thing?
- 18/12/2009 11:33:20 PM
915 Views
- 18/12/2009 11:33:20 PM
915 Views
Yes, "Bell Curve" does not mean Gausian. Or normal distribution.
- 19/12/2009 11:24:10 PM
908 Views
I'm sorry, but I've never heard of a non-Gaussian bell curve. Can you prove its existence? *NM*
- 20/12/2009 03:24:22 AM
501 Views
Maybe people in my field just use the term in a non-technical way. We do things with ...
- 21/12/2009 07:24:43 PM
868 Views
That's because outliers in IQ tests are excluded form the curve. *NM*
- 18/12/2009 11:31:23 PM
512 Views
Re: The One Power Bell Curve: Proof that it is not centered on 50% of the strongest channeler's stre
- 19/12/2009 06:02:34 PM
869 Views
Mathmatically this is very close to the system I proposed in another thread
- 27/12/2009 01:23:51 AM
856 Views
Re: The One Power Bell Curve:
- 27/12/2009 10:05:33 PM
1038 Views
What makes you think Alviarin is "middling"?
- 27/12/2009 10:28:13 PM
1232 Views

