You know, from what you were saying, I didn't think there was anything negative implied in your description of ranting--until you got to that and I said, "Wha?"
You made it sound (up to that point) like both ranting and criticisms are healthy reactions but distinct entities and shouldn't be mistaken for each other. Which seems right to me, as I rant and criticize at turns (and hope I can distinguish between the two).
Excluding the subject, provoking an inflammatory response, seeking the "amen!"--these are not useless. Ranting by definition should exclude the subject, as ranting implies "I don't like this and don't want to discuss it because I will not change my mind, so please do NOT show this to the individual about whom I rant; I would only like to know if anyone agrees so that I can, I hope, find out that it's not just me and feel relief."
no subject
You know, from what you were saying, I didn't think there was anything negative implied in your description of ranting--until you got to that and I said, "Wha?"
You made it sound (up to that point) like both ranting and criticisms are healthy reactions but distinct entities and shouldn't be mistaken for each other. Which seems right to me, as I rant and criticize at turns (and hope I can distinguish between the two).
Excluding the subject, provoking an inflammatory response, seeking the "amen!"--these are not useless. Ranting by definition should exclude the subject, as ranting implies "I don't like this and don't want to discuss it because I will not change my mind, so please do NOT show this to the individual about whom I rant; I would only like to know if anyone agrees so that I can, I hope, find out that it's not just me and feel relief."