r/WoT

Less Secret Wheel of Time Status! (Someone has noticed me!)

Prior to the current timeline, when gentling was the only appropriate way to deal with men who channel, why did the White Tower not use the oath rod to deal with men who can channel?

One of the problems with men who can channel is them going mad and being destructive with the one power. Wouldn’t making them swear an oath to say, not use the one power to be destructive, not have restricted them even once they’re mad? Or there could be other oaths that make them more safe to be around etc. And then later they would also be easier to deal with if they need to be gentled.

My thoughts are that the world lost a lot when men and women couldn’t channel together anymore. Not to mention men go mad at different rates, so for some other White Tower might get years of use out of the channeling men. Verin also mentions Sheriam’s theory that the world doesn’t have as many women who can channel because they have culled men who can, so this could be another reason not to gentle men.

Just a thought, I’m sure this has been debunked or discussed at some stage but it struck me as a missed opportunity for the Aes Sedai.