Perhaps the distribution would be more Gaussian (bell-shaped) when you consider the whole possible population of channelers rather than just the AS. This is purely speculative, but since in the AoL every possible channeler was found and trained to potential, then perhaps the strength distribution would have been perfectly Gaussian in the AoL.
And the evidence in the books clearly show that the average Aes Sedai isn't close to 50% as strong as the strongest woman.
Heck, the average Aes Sedai is shown to be less than 50% as strong as Egwene.
So I am perfectly happy to accept a perfect Bell Curve in the Age of Legends. But that wouldn't apply to modern channelers.
I agree with you that the Aes Sedai are not distributed around 50%.
I do not agree, at least not from the evidence I've seen, that if you included all modern channelers the distribution would still not be at 50% mean. I think to make a proper survey you would need to count all potential channelers who have never been trained, all Sea Folk, all damane, and any other channeling groups I've forgotten.
(Note 1: I tried to make this point in my first post, but I think bringing up the AoL was a distraction.
Note 2: My count is highly speculative, but I'm not saying this distribution is true, merely possible.)
So to reiterate, if you're only arguing about AS, then I agree. They are, on average, pretty weak. If you're expanding the argument to all female channelers of the Age, then I'm not so sure.
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
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I always thought the curve was one sided
18/12/2009 01:17:32 PM
- 811 Views
The Curve only refers to the channeling population, not to non-channelers.
18/12/2009 01:56:25 PM
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I would say that your sample is flawed.
18/12/2009 05:02:02 PM
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It doesn't matter...
18/12/2009 10:02:38 PM
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But, it sort of does.
18/12/2009 10:43:08 PM
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So you're saying that no modern Aes Sedai are even of average strength?
18/12/2009 10:51:01 PM
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The Tower is restricted to the middle...
18/12/2009 05:35:03 PM
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Two things...
18/12/2009 09:28:25 PM
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The culling theory...
18/12/2009 09:36:34 PM
- 750 Views
The culling theory applies to the ENTIRE population, not just Aes Sedai...
18/12/2009 09:42:31 PM
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Several more things...
18/12/2009 11:26:19 PM
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You don't understand your own model...
18/12/2009 11:38:05 PM
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So RJ was wrong about Bell Curve distribution?
19/12/2009 06:03:24 PM
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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
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Age-Related Sample Bias
18/12/2009 06:41:03 PM
- 762 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
- 885 Views
Partially agreed...
18/12/2009 10:13:46 PM
- 782 Views
Well, the Aes Sedai are the only group that we have detailed strength info about...
18/12/2009 10:26:48 PM
- 881 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
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A thought that occured to me, and I'd like your opinion...
18/12/2009 07:38:29 PM
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Is it just my bad memory or is one of the wondergirls not a sparker?
18/12/2009 10:12:59 PM
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Easier sulution, and real example.
18/12/2009 10:03:20 PM
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And that is indeed the solution I feel most comfortable with...
18/12/2009 10:08:40 PM
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Re: And that is indeed the solution I feel most comfortable with...
19/12/2009 11:39:31 AM
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Dude, Seriously?
18/12/2009 10:19:25 PM
- 787 Views
Indeed, and that's why I propose that...
18/12/2009 10:31:23 PM
- 782 Views
So RJ used two separate scales, one actual one relative, to explain the same thing?
18/12/2009 11:33:20 PM
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Yes, "Bell Curve" does not mean Gausian. Or normal distribution.
19/12/2009 11:24:10 PM
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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
- 438 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
- 722 Views
That's because outliers in IQ tests are excluded form the curve. *NM*
18/12/2009 11:31:23 PM
- 443 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
- 712 Views
Mathmatically this is very close to the system I proposed in another thread
27/12/2009 01:23:51 AM
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Re: The One Power Bell Curve:
27/12/2009 10:05:33 PM
- 881 Views
What makes you think Alviarin is "middling"?
27/12/2009 10:28:13 PM
- 1078 Views