I recently picked up a copy of BMA magazine – a culture/music magazine distributed around Australia (or maybe just Canberra?) I noticed an interesting section that encouraged readers to write in and rant/complain about a particular person, anonymously.
I’ve got two questions – 1. why do people feel the need to vent in public, and 2. what does it actually achieve? Our world is full of frustrating, even angering situations. I am frustrated that I took my car to get fixed and they dropped a soldering iron on the back seat and burnt a hole in it. I am frustrated that I parked my car on the street and my rear wiper was bent 180 degrees and rendered useless. I also have other frustrations that aren’t car related.
I’ve got two questions – 1. why do people feel the need to vent in public, and 2. what does it actually achieve? Our world is full of frustrating, even angering situations. I am frustrated that I took my car to get fixed and they dropped a soldering iron on the back seat and burnt a hole in it. I am frustrated that I parked my car on the street and my rear wiper was bent 180 degrees and rendered useless. I also have other frustrations that aren’t car related.
I realise that it can be somewhat therapeutic to vent about life’s frustrations. But health benefits aside, are there any potential positive outcomes of an abusive rant?
My boss once told me “people don’t want to hear about the problems [they usually know what they are already], they want to hear the solutions”. I think that’s spot on. So if I were the editor of BMA magazine, I’d banish the current section, and create a new section that encouraged readers to identify a problem in the world and share what individual action they would take to improve it.Instead of venting your spleen, think creatively about how you can make the world a better place.
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Hmmm… interesting point.
However one might suggest that blogging is a very similar activity.
What does one achieve by writing their thoughts, experiences etc on the net for all to read?
However one might suggest that blogging is a very similar activity.
I guess blogging can be like an anonymous rant/vent, but I think Tiger was saying that it’s not the method of approach that is important, it the actual content of the message.
What does one achieve by writing their thoughts, experiences etc on the net for all to read?
I wonder that as well sometimes. I guess if nothing else, perhaps a discussion and a sharing of ideas might happen…
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