This usage of 方 in 何にもできねえ方がどんだけ平和だろうと思うぜ


So there's a character in a manga that says this:

> 空想だけで何でもできちゃう奴を見ちまうと 何にもできねえ方がどんだけ平和だろうと思うぜ ([Link to
> source](http://puu.sh/817Ik.jpg))

Now the 方 in the text has the furigana of ほう. So if I'm not mistaken that
means "way/side/direction". But it seems that the furigana makes more sense as
かた, so it would mean person. So with that said, how is the phrase 何にもできねえ方
supposed to be translated/understood?




That is 100% 「ほう」, not 「かた」.

When 「方」 is read 「かた」, it is a very polite and respectful way of saying "a
person". Look carefully at the words used in that sentence, such as 「[奴]{やつ} =
a derogatory "dude"」、「[見]{み}ちまう = the tough guy's way of saying 見てしまう」、「できねえ =
the tough guy's できない」, etc. There is no chance that a word like [方]{かた} would
be used with those words in the same sentence.

Whenever [方]{ほう} is used, it is comparing TWO things. In this sentence, the
two things are:

  1. [空想]{くうそう}だけで[何]{なん}でもできちゃう[奴]{やつ} = "a guy who can do anything in his imagination"

  2. 何にもできねえ方 = "a guy who can't do anything (in his imagination)" Here,「方」 refers to 「奴」.

And the speaker is saying that it is more peaceful to be the latter type of
guy.

See my answer here: [Difference between なり (meaning 'either.. or...') and か
(meaning 'or')](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/15302/30454)

