#Also Genesis being a dick to Zack isn't bullying either

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Analysing Genesis is ok.

Romanticising bullying is not.

It's not cute or fun or adorable at all.

We should consider no longer doing that.

Agreed, but Genesis isn't effectively "bullying" Sephiroth until later on when he's severely warped and manipulated by the degradation process.

Him and Sephiroth being competitive towards each other does not equate to Genesis being a bully. It means that Genesis has ambitions and takes them VERY seriously. It also means that he's probably trying to inflate himself into being a worthy adversary. But as far as I can tell, he's not saying things that are specifically designed to hurt Sephiroth emotionally. Sephiroth doesn't CARE about being a hero. He OFFERS it to Genesis. Also, and this is going to sound very basic, but Genesis being cocky and arrogant while sparring is kind of the norm of how competitive guys often banter with each other. Dumb? Definitely. But it's true. What does Sephiroth do after Genesis challenges him for the role of hero? Basically roll his eyes good naturedly like "lol sure Genesis come fight me then". They're egging each other on as COMPETITIVE BANTER, not bullying. Sephiroth and Genesis are being dumb young adult men teasing each other, until the situation escalates and things take a sudden serious turn. Don't forget that Seph was inches away from legitimately hurting Genesis as well. Hell, in the original storyboard of the scene, he DID.

Now when Genesis starts verbally attacking Sephiroth later on after the degradation takes hold, the line begins to blur. Because Genesis' bitterness is tangible and real there, but the degradation process canonically twists a person's mind and emotions, thus making Genesis the worst version of himself. He intentionally uses methods designed to emotionally hurt Sephiroth, but his motives and emotions are far more questionable here because he also simultaneously sought to integrate Sephiroth (and Angeal) as well.

I don't condone bullying. I've faced bullying almost my entire life. Hell, the experiences I faced have left some pretty irreparable scars, scars that will never heal. But this ain't it, chief. It's just Genesis being.... Genesis.