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
1688 Views
I always thought the curve was one sided
- 18/12/2009 01:17:32 PM
981 Views
The Curve only refers to the channeling population, not to non-channelers.
- 18/12/2009 01:56:25 PM
987 Views
I would say that your sample is flawed.
- 18/12/2009 05:02:02 PM
1077 Views
It doesn't matter...
- 18/12/2009 10:02:38 PM
915 Views
But, it sort of does.
- 18/12/2009 10:43:08 PM
990 Views
So you're saying that no modern Aes Sedai are even of average strength?
- 18/12/2009 10:51:01 PM
1133 Views
The Tower is restricted to the middle...
- 18/12/2009 05:35:03 PM
1130 Views
Two things...
- 18/12/2009 09:28:25 PM
999 Views
The culling theory...
- 18/12/2009 09:36:34 PM
929 Views
The culling theory applies to the ENTIRE population, not just Aes Sedai...
- 18/12/2009 09:42:31 PM
1053 Views
Several more things...
- 18/12/2009 11:26:19 PM
1082 Views
You don't understand your own model...
- 18/12/2009 11:38:05 PM
1108 Views
So RJ was wrong about Bell Curve distribution?
- 19/12/2009 06:03:24 PM
971 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
942 Views
Age-Related Sample Bias
- 18/12/2009 06:41:03 PM
940 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
1051 Views
Partially agreed...
- 18/12/2009 10:13:46 PM
940 Views
Well, the Aes Sedai are the only group that we have detailed strength info about...
- 18/12/2009 10:26:48 PM
1093 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
961 Views
A thought that occured to me, and I'd like your opinion...
- 18/12/2009 07:38:29 PM
928 Views
Is it just my bad memory or is one of the wondergirls not a sparker?
- 18/12/2009 10:12:59 PM
918 Views
Easier sulution, and real example.
- 18/12/2009 10:03:20 PM
1000 Views
And that is indeed the solution I feel most comfortable with...
- 18/12/2009 10:08:40 PM
951 Views
Re: And that is indeed the solution I feel most comfortable with...
- 19/12/2009 11:39:31 AM
1197 Views
Dude, Seriously?
- 18/12/2009 10:19:25 PM
935 Views
Indeed, and that's why I propose that...
- 18/12/2009 10:31:23 PM
986 Views
So RJ used two separate scales, one actual one relative, to explain the same thing?
- 18/12/2009 11:33:20 PM
956 Views
- 18/12/2009 11:33:20 PM
956 Views
Yes, "Bell Curve" does not mean Gausian. Or normal distribution.
- 19/12/2009 11:24:10 PM
944 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
509 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
900 Views
That's because outliers in IQ tests are excluded form the curve. *NM*
- 18/12/2009 11:31:23 PM
522 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
896 Views
Mathmatically this is very close to the system I proposed in another thread
- 27/12/2009 01:23:51 AM
886 Views
Re: The One Power Bell Curve:
- 27/12/2009 10:05:33 PM
1061 Views
What makes you think Alviarin is "middling"?
- 27/12/2009 10:28:13 PM
1269 Views

