[Sybil happened. But explaining Sybil means explaining said long depressing story from earlier, so he sidesteps.]

Basically? It was considered too stressful.

[The pursuit of knowledge itself is discouraged, under Sybil. The university system was dismantled long ago, with the only exception being Osou Academy, a finishing school for girls who were to become old-fashioned housewives. To go into space, when leaving the country was no longer permitted? Unthinkable.]

Alcohol is pretty great, though. [says the man who is drunk like...right now...]

Hey, that's a suggestion--get drunk and do something you haven't before! Like a bucket list, but without the dying part.