I tend to think that venting can serve as a safety valve if there are small annoyances that of themselves aren't serious, or that likely won't be changed--it's just nice to blow off steam sometimes IF the person you're blowing off steam to understands that that is what you're doing and doesn't make it other than what it is.
Absolutely. It's what most of my female friends will do -- in fact, they vent more than they offer praise. You know they're doing exactly that, and you know they're not telling you something with the expectation that it will materially harm your opinion of their spouse.
But on the very rare occasions that men vent about little things that annoy/infuriate them in a relationship -- maybe it's something about me-- to me, it has a different feel. Or maybe I feel differently about it.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2008-03-19 06:24 am (UTC)Absolutely. It's what most of my female friends will do -- in fact, they vent more than they offer praise. You know they're doing exactly that, and you know they're not telling you something with the expectation that it will materially harm your opinion of their spouse.
But on the very rare occasions that men vent about little things that annoy/infuriate them in a relationship -- maybe it's something about me-- to me, it has a different feel. Or maybe I feel differently about it.