Chapter 198
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: Blaming Others: The Antidote to Depression
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"On the contrary, the kinder, gentler, and more self-blaming someone is, the more likely they are to make those tragic, extreme choices. Meanwhile, the hypocrites who live by 'rules for thee but not for me,' the ones always blaming others, the shameless bastards—they seem to live the longest, don't they?"
"Oh ho."
"That's why you hear sayings like, 'What the hell are ghosts doing, not taking scum like that away?' or 'People who get cursed a lot live longer,' or 'Why does God only take the good ones early?' In reality, those who are good at blaming others and being shameless have superior mental barriers."
"Hmm."
"So, if someone around you, Oppa, starts showing signs of depression or suicidal thoughts, tell them to blame others—or help them do it yourself. Not the ones already masters at hypocrisy, though. Just the depressed ones at risk. Who knows? You might end up saving someone's precious life."
"Got it. If I run into someone with depression, I'll give your advice a shot."
"That bitch's fault. That asshole's fault. Senior's fault, junior's fault, boss's fault, incompetent management's fault, company's fault, that jerk's fault, society's fault. Country's fault. Parents' fault. Era's fault. Environment's fault. Genes' fault. Luck's fault. Shit-luck-game's fault... cough cough. Anyway, nothing keeps your mind as healthy in the depression department as blaming others."
"Hmm."
"On the flip side, the moment you start blaming yourself, your mental strength and emotions get shoved straight into the gutter. Even when blaming luck, don't make you the reference point. Blame the shitty, luck-forsaken world—that's the key. Not your fault. Others' fault."
"I see."
"Of course, people need some self-reflection and regret. But only when it's productive. Ruminating on things that are done, irreversible, or beyond one person's control is pointless. So if someone's sinking into depression, you have to teach them how to blame others."
"Yeah."
"Truth is, humans... it's hard for any one person to change much on their own, right? So much is decided at birth. Take the era you're born into, for starters. Did someone born in the Stone Age or a future utopia achieve that through personal merit? Nope. It's just predetermined."
"True..."
"Someone born in the Stone Age, suffering their whole life, dying at 20 from a simple cold with no fever meds—is that their fault? Or someone born in a future where all diseases and aging are conquered, living it up playing VR games—is that thanks to their effort? Nah. We know the real answer. Humans can't escape their given environment much."
"Hmm."
"Era might feel too broad, so let's fix that and look at something else. Nationality, for example? Someone born in Korea versus Somalia—they start worlds apart. Neither did anything wrong or right to deserve it."
"..."
"Lock nationality too? Even in America, one person might be born in the slums, another in Beverly Hills. Parents' wealth, the genes they pass on. Meaning looks, personality, talent?"
"So most of it's decided before we're even born."
"Yeah, exactly. It's no exaggeration to say 99% of a human life is set before birth. You can't ignore the power of parents, home environment, genes. Genes even pretty much dictate when you'll get what hereditary disease."
"..."
"Personality? Can't ignore genes there either. Pituitary gland length, hypothalamus shape, prefrontal cortex traits, hormone receptor length and sensitivity—all that determines if you're extroverted, introverted, or whatever personality type."
"Hmm."
"Grit? Mental fortitude? All determined by that too. Someone with ADHD can't focus for five minutes. Five minutes is actually a huge effort for them. Is that their fault? Born that way already? Or if mom's accidental drinking or meds during pregnancy caused body or brain issues—that's not their fault either."
"So effort's meaningless? Since it's all preset?"
"Why would effort be meaningless? I've never said that once. I know your brain's wired to your dick, Oppa, but try not to think in stupid black-and-white ape terms."
"...Ahem. That was a bit..."
"Sorry. Got harsh there. Anyway, seems like you're not getting it. Say someone’s born without arms, legs, or eyes—a severe disability. No matter how hard they 'try,' modern tech still can't let them live like a normal person."
"..."
"But does that mean effort's pointless? No. And we're talking depression and suicide here. Is it their fault they were born disabled? Should they self-blame? 'There are amazing disabled people, right? Compare yourself to the top 0.0001% of successful ones and reflect on your worthless life'?"
"No way."
"Exactly. We humans have to recognize how damn hard it is to escape our given environment and clearly separate what is our fault from what isn't. How do we do that? Look at the average. Not the perfect-child prodigies. Even in the Stone Age, the exceptional ones would thrive. Same in Somalia. So ignore them."
"..."
"Most people in that environment—how did they live? Was it their fault? Nah, the era sucked, the birthplace sucked. Or bad genes. Or born with disabilities or no talents."
"Hmm."
"That's what I'm saying to unhappy, depressed people—especially those considering extreme choices. Get them to blame others and show them how to overcome it. 99.99% of whatever's bugging them probably isn't their fault anyway."
"Really?"
"Yep. Obviously. Soldier with PTSD and depression from killing in war or failing to save a comrade—is that his fault? Or the era that started the war? Guy dumped because his lover cheated, now depressed—is it his fault? Or the cheater's? Or, broader still, genes that made him ugly?"
"..."
"Kid stressing over bad test scores? Bluntly, probably low parental IQ, shitty home life, or not rich enough for pricey tutors."
"Uh, hmm..."
"You can't ignore bloodlines and genes. Even if not direct parents, there's generational inheritance. Don't spout dumb shit like 'kids turn out totally different from parents.' Why do you think humans breed livestock like horses and dogs, managing bloodlines for improvement?"
"..."
"And usually, if parents have good degrees, kids do too. Smart parents, smart kids. Korea's top MC? Parents from top universities. Korea's most famous athlete? Parents all in sports."
"Hmm."
"That's why women want good seed—and a strong, leadership-type guy with resources to care for her while pregnant and raising it. Your so-called alpha male."
"..."
"Men, meanwhile, look at the woman's looks—the owner of the genes mixing with half his seed. Preferring young women? It's fertility and low risk of birth defects. Older moms mean higher chances of disabilities or premies. Plus, older women tire out more raising kids than young ones."
"Oh, I see. Yeah."
"Even one year younger is better. In our family, I'm the most suitable woman. Health doesn't matter much. Plenty of guys go for frail girls, right? There's reasons for that."
"Really...?"
Isn't health important? Or not? Like my little sister says, maybe it isn't?
Suddenly, I recalled the twisted persuasion technique my youngest sister had taught me before.
Mix 90% truth with 10% lies, was it?
"Yeah, that's it. Oppa's natural instinct to like pretty, young women is totally normal. Come to think of it, the youngest woman around you is me—turning 19 this year. cough cough. Get what I'm saying, Oppa? Babies are born with so much already set, so parents matter that much. For you, it's who receives your seed."
Honestly, her words were getting so boring I nearly dozed off.
But that last bit hit home.
My preference for pretty, young women had solid reasons behind it.
Pure human instinct!
"Some folks vividly remember stuff from before age 5 or 7. They say even as speechless babies, they understood everything. Might not know big words, but they got parents' conversations. Like if parents fought over plastic bowls during an argument, baby wouldn't know 'plastic' but would sense the fight."
"I see."
She'd taught me the basic way to fend off depression and suicide: blame others, blame society.
She also explained how humans are born with so much predetermined, heavily shaped by environment.
Prime examples: era, nationality, genes.
Thus, women seek alpha males for superior genes and support to raise them strong. Men seek young, pretty women to birth their genes healthy.
And even speechless babies pick up on parents' words, intentions, emotions—so never fight in front of them.
"Oppa, so let's never yell or fight in front of our baby. If we have issues, take it outside. Got it?"
My youngest sister said it with a bright smile, emphasizing like it was the key point.
Of all her long-winded knowledge dump, this felt like the real punchline.
I half-suspected she'd worn me out with the heavy stuff just to build up to this.