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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 1608 Views
I always thought the curve was one sided - 18/12/2009 01:17:32 PM 910 Views
I would say that your sample is flawed. - 18/12/2009 05:02:02 PM 1002 Views
well said *NM* - 18/12/2009 05:12:40 PM 475 Views
It doesn't matter... - 18/12/2009 10:02:38 PM 848 Views
But, it sort of does. - 18/12/2009 10:43:08 PM 920 Views
So you're saying that no modern Aes Sedai are even of average strength? - 18/12/2009 10:51:01 PM 1033 Views
Are you sure it's the same bell curve from the AoL? - 18/12/2009 11:11:19 PM 972 Views
The Tower is restricted to the middle... - 18/12/2009 05:35:03 PM 1076 Views
Two things... - 18/12/2009 09:28:25 PM 925 Views
The culling theory... - 18/12/2009 09:36:34 PM 862 Views
The culling theory applies to the ENTIRE population, not just Aes Sedai... - 18/12/2009 09:42:31 PM 978 Views
Yes, but Aes Sedai take it to a new level... - 18/12/2009 09:48:59 PM 1067 Views
Re: Yes, but Aes Sedai take it to a new level... - 18/12/2009 10:06:15 PM 839 Views
Several more things... - 18/12/2009 11:26:19 PM 1003 Views
You don't understand your own model... - 18/12/2009 11:38:05 PM 1041 Views
So RJ was wrong about Bell Curve distribution? - 19/12/2009 06:03:24 PM 909 Views
Re: So RJ was wrong about Bell Curve distribution? - 19/12/2009 06:10:52 PM 897 Views
Its simple really... - 19/12/2009 06:15:23 PM 925 Views
Age-Related Sample Bias - 18/12/2009 06:41:03 PM 867 Views
A thought that occured to me, and I'd like your opinion... - 18/12/2009 07:38:29 PM 866 Views
Well Sharina isn't a sparker and she's the strongest AS - 18/12/2009 07:57:17 PM 883 Views
Yes... - 18/12/2009 08:01:57 PM 972 Views
Is it just my bad memory or is one of the wondergirls not a sparker? - 18/12/2009 10:12:59 PM 858 Views
I think it's just a bad memory... - 18/12/2009 10:19:25 PM 866 Views
Easier sulution, and real example. - 18/12/2009 10:03:20 PM 928 Views
And that is indeed the solution I feel most comfortable with... - 18/12/2009 10:08:40 PM 895 Views
Re: And that is indeed the solution I feel most comfortable with... - 19/12/2009 11:39:31 AM 1111 Views
Agree, but a little more curvy is better - 19/12/2009 11:17:16 PM 809 Views
*facepalm* - 18/12/2009 10:13:16 PM 889 Views
That's just the normalized value graphed on a log scale. - 19/12/2009 11:20:41 PM 863 Views
Dude, Seriously? - 18/12/2009 10:19:25 PM 867 Views
Indeed, and that's why I propose that... - 18/12/2009 10:31:23 PM 918 Views
Yes, "Bell Curve" does not mean Gausian. Or normal distribution. - 19/12/2009 11:24:10 PM 869 Views
It does to RJ - 20/12/2009 03:12:30 PM 964 Views
Yes, "Bell Curve" does not mean Gausian. Or normal distribution. - 19/12/2009 11:24:11 PM 847 Views
That's because outliers in IQ tests are excluded form the curve. *NM* - 18/12/2009 11:31:23 PM 492 Views
Really?!?! then what is the definition of a IQ of 200? - 19/12/2009 11:28:18 PM 1177 Views
You can have IQ's above that... - 20/12/2009 05:09:44 AM 900 Views
I said that in the other post and was half torn to pieces *NM* - 19/12/2009 11:38:25 AM 442 Views
Eh. Ignore the IQ value and draw it on a linear weight scale - 19/12/2009 11:26:23 PM 855 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 839 Views
I like this idea - 20/12/2009 04:01:28 PM 1074 Views
Accidental Post *NM* - 20/12/2009 07:11:09 PM 482 Views
Mathmatically this is very close to the system I proposed in another thread - 27/12/2009 01:23:51 AM 830 Views
Re: The One Power Bell Curve: - 27/12/2009 10:05:33 PM 1000 Views
What makes you think Alviarin is "middling"? - 27/12/2009 10:28:13 PM 1194 Views
Re: What makes you think Alviarin is "middling"? - 28/12/2009 03:19:14 PM 872 Views
Re: What makes you think Alviarin is "middling"? - 28/12/2009 03:30:44 PM 1087 Views

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