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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.


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.

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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 1522 Views
I always thought the curve was one sided - 18/12/2009 01:17:32 PM 861 Views
I would say that your sample is flawed. - 18/12/2009 05:02:02 PM 935 Views
well said *NM* - 18/12/2009 05:12:40 PM 440 Views
It doesn't matter... - 18/12/2009 10:02:38 PM 793 Views
But, it sort of does. - 18/12/2009 10:43:08 PM 856 Views
So you're saying that no modern Aes Sedai are even of average strength? - 18/12/2009 10:51:01 PM 946 Views
Are you sure it's the same bell curve from the AoL? - 18/12/2009 11:11:19 PM 893 Views
The Tower is restricted to the middle... - 18/12/2009 05:35:03 PM 1017 Views
Two things... - 18/12/2009 09:28:25 PM 851 Views
The culling theory... - 18/12/2009 09:36:34 PM 805 Views
The culling theory applies to the ENTIRE population, not just Aes Sedai... - 18/12/2009 09:42:31 PM 919 Views
Yes, but Aes Sedai take it to a new level... - 18/12/2009 09:48:59 PM 989 Views
Re: Yes, but Aes Sedai take it to a new level... - 18/12/2009 10:06:15 PM 780 Views
Several more things... - 18/12/2009 11:26:19 PM 946 Views
You don't understand your own model... - 18/12/2009 11:38:05 PM 966 Views
So RJ was wrong about Bell Curve distribution? - 19/12/2009 06:03:24 PM 861 Views
Re: So RJ was wrong about Bell Curve distribution? - 19/12/2009 06:10:52 PM 829 Views
Its simple really... - 19/12/2009 06:15:23 PM 845 Views
Age-Related Sample Bias - 18/12/2009 06:41:03 PM 812 Views
A thought that occured to me, and I'd like your opinion... - 18/12/2009 07:38:29 PM 815 Views
Well Sharina isn't a sparker and she's the strongest AS - 18/12/2009 07:57:17 PM 818 Views
Yes... - 18/12/2009 08:01:57 PM 911 Views
Is it just my bad memory or is one of the wondergirls not a sparker? - 18/12/2009 10:12:59 PM 799 Views
I think it's just a bad memory... - 18/12/2009 10:19:25 PM 805 Views
Easier sulution, and real example. - 18/12/2009 10:03:20 PM 866 Views
And that is indeed the solution I feel most comfortable with... - 18/12/2009 10:08:40 PM 831 Views
Re: And that is indeed the solution I feel most comfortable with... - 19/12/2009 11:39:31 AM 1058 Views
Agree, but a little more curvy is better - 19/12/2009 11:17:16 PM 759 Views
*facepalm* - 18/12/2009 10:13:16 PM 842 Views
That's just the normalized value graphed on a log scale. - 19/12/2009 11:20:41 PM 815 Views
Dude, Seriously? - 18/12/2009 10:19:25 PM 835 Views
Indeed, and that's why I propose that... - 18/12/2009 10:31:23 PM 828 Views
Yes, "Bell Curve" does not mean Gausian. Or normal distribution. - 19/12/2009 11:24:10 PM 816 Views
It does to RJ - 20/12/2009 03:12:30 PM 908 Views
Yes, "Bell Curve" does not mean Gausian. Or normal distribution. - 19/12/2009 11:24:11 PM 792 Views
That's because outliers in IQ tests are excluded form the curve. *NM* - 18/12/2009 11:31:23 PM 469 Views
Really?!?! then what is the definition of a IQ of 200? - 19/12/2009 11:28:18 PM 1123 Views
You can have IQ's above that... - 20/12/2009 05:09:44 AM 837 Views
I said that in the other post and was half torn to pieces *NM* - 19/12/2009 11:38:25 AM 408 Views
Eh. Ignore the IQ value and draw it on a linear weight scale - 19/12/2009 11:26:23 PM 796 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 777 Views
I like this idea - 20/12/2009 04:01:28 PM 975 Views
Accidental Post *NM* - 20/12/2009 07:11:09 PM 455 Views
Mathmatically this is very close to the system I proposed in another thread - 27/12/2009 01:23:51 AM 777 Views
Re: The One Power Bell Curve: - 27/12/2009 10:05:33 PM 930 Views
What makes you think Alviarin is "middling"? - 27/12/2009 10:28:13 PM 1129 Views
Re: What makes you think Alviarin is "middling"? - 28/12/2009 03:19:14 PM 814 Views
Re: What makes you think Alviarin is "middling"? - 28/12/2009 03:30:44 PM 1028 Views

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