A non-linear 21 point scale is fine... - Edit 1
Before modification by Shannow at 02/11/2012 11:06:06 PM
You can't seem to grasp the fact that a bell curve distribution does not have to be linear to work.
What Dreadlord describes is not far from how I see this to be honest, I don't really agree with Linda's use of levels as I think the Forsaken are on too many levels, but if you look at what he has done it will roughly follow a bell curve. Rejigger some of the use of levels and we are very close in our thoughts.
Another point you can't seem to grasp is that a bell curve is not saying Lanfear is 100% stronger than Morgase. There are no power volumes assigned to the scale. Stating Moiraine is above the Mean is not the same as saying Moiraine is more than 50% as strong as Lanfear. You continue to confuse the issue by not understanding that Lanfear can be 500x as strong as Morgase and still represent "100" on our imaginary scale.
And you continue to ignore the fact that you want to have a Mean that has 6 SD above it but cannot support 6 below it ... Which is not possible.
I'd rather argue this with you all day than read your creative quoting of the text, which almost never supports your strength theories. You have no grasp on the chronology of the books and consistently quote things out of context or mix when events happen (sometimes by months) to support your thoughts.
What Dreadlord describes is not far from how I see this to be honest, I don't really agree with Linda's use of levels as I think the Forsaken are on too many levels, but if you look at what he has done it will roughly follow a bell curve. Rejigger some of the use of levels and we are very close in our thoughts.
Another point you can't seem to grasp is that a bell curve is not saying Lanfear is 100% stronger than Morgase. There are no power volumes assigned to the scale. Stating Moiraine is above the Mean is not the same as saying Moiraine is more than 50% as strong as Lanfear. You continue to confuse the issue by not understanding that Lanfear can be 500x as strong as Morgase and still represent "100" on our imaginary scale.
And you continue to ignore the fact that you want to have a Mean that has 6 SD above it but cannot support 6 below it ... Which is not possible.
I'd rather argue this with you all day than read your creative quoting of the text, which almost never supports your strength theories. You have no grasp on the chronology of the books and consistently quote things out of context or mix when events happen (sometimes by months) to support your thoughts.
What it does, is eradicate all attempts by the likes of Fionwe to use the Bell Curve to limit the strength of a 21 level channeler compared to that of a level 10.
It means that the Mean does not have to lie at level 10 out of 21. Instead, it will lie closer to level 15.
I have never been against an exponential type of scale. In fact, it is one of the many theories I have suggested over the years.
My sole point with the Bell Curve calculations was to resist the attempts of some - and you know you have been one of them in recent times - to try and use a linear Bell Curve argument to impose your views of channeler strength on others.
What I have done in the posts above is to clearly disprove a linear Bell Curve distribution of channeler strength. It is mathematically impossible, given the information provided by the author himself.
If you will pause for one moment and agree with me on that, then we can move forward constructively.
Your ally Fionwe has been vocal in claiming that Lanfear can only be twice as strong as the average channeler. With the linear curve refuted, that argument no longer holds any water.
An exponential type of strength increase across the 21 levels means all options are back on the table, and the stupid idea that Lanfear is only twice as strong as the average woman can be thrown in the trash for good.
If that is all we have achieved today, that is still a massive step forward.