Why is Cid cranky?

[comma]

So, I played FFVII again recently and realized that the characters are a lot better developed than I remember them being. Cid isn't just cranky because he's old or an asshole, it's because of his massive regret for getting so close to his dream but being the one who prevented it, anger at himself and Shera, unresolved cognitive dissonance at caring for Shera but hating her for destroying his dream, and all this while never being able to forget his past with the rocket leaning over him after so many years and living with Shera.

How you can argue anything else is beyond me.

[Spooniest]

He could be suffering from hemorrhoids.

[comma]

I suppose that would explain the spears.

[Cloudane]

Question has apparently answered itself

[Dante WolfWood]

I honestly just think it's a coping mechanism. Not everyone reacts the same to having their dreams crushed/lives torn apart. In this case, everyone reacts differently to ShinRa and their actions:

(SPOILER)Barret becomes vengeful and decided to go on a terrorist rampage to exact his revenge. He regrets ever helping ShinRa in the first place and is seeking redemption through Avalanche.

Tifa decides to cling to one thing she cherished as a child, her friend Cloud; even though the cloud she encounters belongs in a loony bin. In her mind, she finally regains something she lost from ShinRa.

Vincent becomes almost completely apathetic (at least I see it this way; I wouldn't say he's moody or emo), except for one thing; stopping Hojo. His life is gone, lover is gone, and hopes at a new life are gone. ShinRa took everything from him. He also blames himself for most of this, but unlike Barret, he decides to "punish" himself and lock himself away from the world.

Yuffie embraces a carefree attitude and decides to just focus on rebuilding her home instead of exacting revenge by stealing materia. There's no point on becoming attached or serious about anything because by tomorrow, it could be gone, just like how the war with ShinRa left her home in shambles. (That's just speculation, not really conveyed in game)

Red XIII, in my opinion, just wanted to get away from it all, and just escape the situation that is going on in the world. If I remember correctly, it took him learning of his father's true courage and motivation from his "granpa" to convince him to Join Cloud and company.

Cloud...is just nuts. lol. No really, if I remember correctly, he was pretty much being manipulated by Sephy and dragged along. He later gains a more positive motivation after the fact that he was just a puppet.

Then there's Cid. After having his dreams crushed by ShinRa, AND having a divided mindset of whether he truly regrets making the decision to save Shera and cancel the launch (which ultimately led to the cancellation of the space project), he becomes EXTREMELY bitter. He even projects blame on Shera, because in his mind, if she had just listened to him, he could have still made it into space (Although she was right and saved his life). So he reacts like how many normal people do; becomes an intolerable jackass and foul mouthed jerk who pretty much hates the world.

Lawd, that's a lot of crap.

[Spooniest]

What a great post! Rep +1 for you!

I'd rep it twice for your ultra-cool avatar, if I could.

[Mercen-X]

Not everyone reacts the same to having their dreams crushed/lives torn apart.

Not everyone in this game experiences the same tragic circumstances.

Barret's town is slaughtered and so is Tifa's. Don't forget that Tifa is a member of AVALANCHE. She was a part of that group before Cloud showed up in Midgar. So her reaction started out pretty much the same as Barret's.

As you mention, Vincent blames himself, but his tragedy is witnessing his love's life ruined. He never sees her die. He otherwise probably would have sought revenge there and then, but don't forget he eventually does.
Neither Cid nor Yuffie has experienced the death of someone they care about. But Yuffie was just a brat who wasn't old enough to decide what she wanted while Cid only had the one dream of which he was callously robbed.

Red XIII... it's a little difficult to seek revenge given that Bugenhagen locked the one path through which to access the Gi that had killed his parents. Even if he could only avenge his mother (as she was the one of whose death he was aware), I'm sure he would have.

[Niale]

Personality
I know some people who swears a lot, its normal for some really