What is the difference between gossip and venting?
I’m really confused in the difference between venting to your friends and confidants about events and people and gossip. Aren’t they somewhat the same? When can this be considered negative?
By: Goodieb
About the Author:
Filed under Psychology by on Jan 23rd, 2010. 
Comments on What is the difference between gossip and venting?
Mental Illness News
They kind of cross territories now and again, but when venting, its usually about a specific incident that has made you angry. Gossip usually has no specific focus; one just repeats or spreads around their own opinion of all subjects.
Coupon Organizer
There will always be some interloping.
Usually gossip is reserved for juicy news to share – like if you know that someone’s spouse is having an affair with so-and-so.
Venting is for people to get out their frustration about something that has happened to them. They need to feel vindicated. Or they need to gripe about a boss or a colleague.
;p
Coupon Binder
Gossip is without anger.
Venting is with anger.
Coupon Binder
When you vent the focus is YOU. You are frustrated or angry and you are trying to explain the situation so that you either understand it better, or someone else can give you a fresh perspective.
When you gossip it is about others, about repeating information about other people. Sometimes you might be angry about it, sometimes not.
Marketing Strategies
gossip generally has malicious intent in the speakers heart. Rather than venting which is just letting off steam about someone. Its all in what you are hoping to accomplish with the conversation. If you just have some pent up energy then you are venting. If you are hoping to injure in some way the person discussed you are gossiping. So a conversation can have either gossip or venting and could have both.
Mental Illness News
In a way it’s the same thing, unless you look at it differently. See, when you gossip with your friends, chances are you’re probably not upset. You’re basically telling them things people do and what they have said, etc.
However, when you’re venting, chances are you ARE upset and therefore you feel the need to get everything off your chest and tell someone how you feel. That’s not “technically” considered gossiping because you’re not just talking about them, you’re sharing what exactly has made you upset.
Marketing Strategies
venting tends to be a personal experiance where it is a first person account and gosip is more of a 2nd persons account of events I think