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.
I was Phelix on wotmania, I will always be Phelix in the "real" world, and now I am Phelix on RAFO.
You will make all kinds of mistakes; but as long as you are generous and true and also fierce you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her.- Churchill
*MySmiley*
You will make all kinds of mistakes; but as long as you are generous and true and also fierce you cannot hurt the world or even seriously distress her.- Churchill
*MySmiley*
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
- 1405 Views
I always thought the curve was one sided
18/12/2009 01:17:32 PM
- 804 Views
The Curve only refers to the channeling population, not to non-channelers.
18/12/2009 01:56:25 PM
- 809 Views
I would say that your sample is flawed.
18/12/2009 05:02:02 PM
- 878 Views
It doesn't matter...
18/12/2009 10:02:38 PM
- 740 Views
But, it sort of does.
18/12/2009 10:43:08 PM
- 798 Views
So you're saying that no modern Aes Sedai are even of average strength?
18/12/2009 10:51:01 PM
- 879 Views
The Tower is restricted to the middle...
18/12/2009 05:35:03 PM
- 962 Views
Two things...
18/12/2009 09:28:25 PM
- 793 Views
The culling theory...
18/12/2009 09:36:34 PM
- 744 Views
The culling theory applies to the ENTIRE population, not just Aes Sedai...
18/12/2009 09:42:31 PM
- 865 Views
Several more things...
18/12/2009 11:26:19 PM
- 890 Views
You don't understand your own model...
18/12/2009 11:38:05 PM
- 913 Views
So RJ was wrong about Bell Curve distribution?
19/12/2009 06:03:24 PM
- 803 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
- 790 Views
Age-Related Sample Bias
18/12/2009 06:41:03 PM
- 757 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
- 881 Views
Partially agreed...
18/12/2009 10:13:46 PM
- 772 Views
Well, the Aes Sedai are the only group that we have detailed strength info about...
18/12/2009 10:26:48 PM
- 874 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
- 855 Views
A thought that occured to me, and I'd like your opinion...
18/12/2009 07:38:29 PM
- 752 Views
Is it just my bad memory or is one of the wondergirls not a sparker?
18/12/2009 10:12:59 PM
- 742 Views
Easier sulution, and real example.
18/12/2009 10:03:20 PM
- 808 Views
And that is indeed the solution I feel most comfortable with...
18/12/2009 10:08:40 PM
- 768 Views
Re: And that is indeed the solution I feel most comfortable with...
19/12/2009 11:39:31 AM
- 1007 Views
Dude, Seriously?
18/12/2009 10:19:25 PM
- 783 Views
Indeed, and that's why I propose that...
18/12/2009 10:31:23 PM
- 774 Views
So RJ used two separate scales, one actual one relative, to explain the same thing?
18/12/2009 11:33:20 PM
- 729 Views

Yes, "Bell Curve" does not mean Gausian. Or normal distribution.
19/12/2009 11:24:10 PM
- 755 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
- 434 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
- 715 Views
That's because outliers in IQ tests are excluded form the curve. *NM*
18/12/2009 11:31:23 PM
- 440 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
- 705 Views
Mathmatically this is very close to the system I proposed in another thread
27/12/2009 01:23:51 AM
- 718 Views
Re: The One Power Bell Curve:
27/12/2009 10:05:33 PM
- 874 Views
What makes you think Alviarin is "middling"?
27/12/2009 10:28:13 PM
- 1069 Views