Saidar & Saidin

[dscott8]

Just wondering if a hermaphrodite with the spark could channel both saidar and saidin.

[dovien]

My first reaction is to say 'no'. Technically it may be something that is possible but not probable. I think even if such a person was born, they're almost certain to die rather than gaining control over both halves.

[Arkane101]

my guess is the female part of them has a chance to channel saidar, and the male part of them has a chance to channel saidin, so there is a very miniscule chance they will channel both. But if they could, they would need a teacher for both, since theres a 1/4 chance to live channeling one or the other, without a teacher there would be a 1/16 chance to live channeling both without a teacher for both, but similarly a 1/4 chance if they have 1 teacher. Although being able to channel both if they had a teacher for one and not the other, they would probably be happy ignoring the 2nd ability until they found a necessary teacher, then the pleasure would be like channeling the true power if they channeled both at once.

[Jblaylock]

As far as my limited understanding of hermaphrodites goes, I thought that they simply had a mutation that gave them both reproductive organs (somewhat, if not in complete normal form) but, geneticaly speaking, where either male or female but not both. That's why, according to 20/20 (which I know is a laughably "American" media source that you cannot really trust worth a crap) the Dr. sometimes makes the call one way or another, removes the "extra part", and then when the hemo grows up, he or she realizes that the doc made the wrong call, and they then get a sex change. So, if it's only about the part, and geneticaly this individual is not actualy both a male and a female but either one or the other, then I'd say no, they cannot channel both halves.

[Jblaylock]

...or... I should have said...

[Barid Bel Medar]

someone actually asked RJ this, and he basically said get a life, your weird. Look it up at theoryland database.

[dovien]

Just found it:

 

"Someone actually asked Jordan whether a hermaphrodite would channel saidin or saidar. Jordan was...non-plussed. "A hermaphrodite?! I dunno. I'd have to sit down and figure that out." He shot the guy a funny look as he walked away, then remarked to the next group of people in line that he put that in the same category as the person who wrote to ask him what Donald Duck would channel."

[Jblaylock]

Well, this guy (?? or girl ??) is apparantly channelling both. So....

 

[didymos]

As far as my limited understanding of hermaphrodites goes, I thought that they simply had a mutation that gave them both reproductive organs (somewhat, if not in complete normal form) but, geneticaly speaking, where either male or female but not both.

 

Well, if you really wanna know, here:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intersex

 

It's not quite so simple as just having a mutation. There are all sorts of different disorders with different causes, and in some there can be very odd sex-chromosome numbers, and even conditions where some cells are XX and others XY.

[mikedh]

they still have either XX or XY, and I think we can safely assume that channeling is sex-linked, so they would have to channel one or the other.

[Ozzie_aiel]

It would certainly make those "Clothed in the Light" situations in the Tower a bit awkward

[didymos]

they still have either XX or XY, and I think we can safely assume that channeling is sex-linked, so they would have to channel one or the other.

 

You didn't read the link then I take it? No, it's not always just 'XX' or 'XY'. In fact, there are 'XY' women. Yes, they're really women, despite being genetically male. Besides, your argument just "disproved" Halima being able to channel saidin. Obviously, what determines it is the soul.

[Jblaylock]

Well, this guy (?? or girl ??) is apparantly channelling both. So....

 

 

Again, here is the proof that it's possible...

[Abutt]

Im pretty sure the person would be able to channel either saidin or saidar bassed of of their soul. If they were a guy in previous lives, then saidin, if a girl, then saidar. Because hermaphroditic is just a mutation, its not supposed to happen.

[dovien]

Because hermaphroditic is just a mutation, its not supposed to happen.

As far as evolution is concerned, nothing is 'supposed to happen', everything is mutation. But you're right; the gender of the soul's previous bodies would be the key indicator here.

[Jblaylock]

Because hermaphroditic is just a mutation, its not supposed to happen.

As far as evolution is concerned, nothing is 'supposed to happen', everything is mutation. But you're right; the gender of the soul's previous bodies would be the key indicator here.

 

Well since WOT mentions "the Creator" time and again, I think evolution theories are null and void in Randland.

[didymos]

Well since WOT mentions "the Creator" time and again, I think evolution theories are null and void in Randland.

 

The Creator doesn't do anything after the intitial creation though. And genetics exists in WOT, so evolution does too. The very fact that the AS are worried about culling out channeling shows that variation and selection are possible. RJ has also stated that channeling is partly genetic: things like strength and learning/sparking are part of the genetic contribution to the ability. It's also worth noting that he said there are Ages where no one channels. It's debatable whether he meant no one sparks during them, but that's the obvious implication.