Why we like to vent so much?
Venting is... an interesting thing. It's something than can be annoying, noisy and even depressing, but also necessary. Sure, the people who reads a vent post won't need to read it at all, but to the person who is writing those thoughts it can be a necessity of the moment.
I can't help to feel self-conscious each time I decide to write my negative thoughts. "It's annoying" and "who cares?" are the main thoughts that invade my mind each time I feel like turning on the computer just to write how I feel. And... yeah, sure it it. Nobody wants to engage with a person who do nothing else than to complain or be negative all the time. Or at least someone who their main presence it's just for that.
You see, not everything in life can be positive and perfect, no matter how we try. And sometimes we need to take care of some feelings and thought that are invading our hearts and minds. To scream to the void without wanting a response or a solution. Just to take it out.
Reading (or hearing) negative thoughs can be tiring and, in some cases, will ruin your mood. It's normal. But there's a little "something" about reading the negative thoughs of something else. It can help you to realize that you aren't alone.
Personaly I like to read vent post of random people on the Internet. It's like a little reminder that behind the screen, in a different part of the world, there's a human being, just like you and me, with thoughts and feelings. Sure, not everyone face the same problems and have the same experiences, but everyone have feelings!.
I might not understand the situation but I can understand when someone feels mad to the point of scream and wanting to destroy everything, because I've been there too. The feeling of sadness and dread that makes you feel alone no matter how many people is around you? I've been there too. Or the feeling of fear when you don't know what to do in a certain situation to the point of being confused and helpless? Guess what, I've been there too. I can undertand all of that because I'm human, a human who can also feel all those emotions.
Besides, writing can help to "give form" to those feelings. How many times anyone started to feel "bad" but could't really tell why or what was that feeling? Well, when you write you are forced to give some type of cohesion and coherence to your thought so, the moment you start to write you can help yourself to see what is going on.
At the end of the day venting can be healthy and even good to get to know yourself. It's like a little moment of relief and even self reflection. Of course not everyone does that last part, but it is really that necessary?
It's also interesting when your friends online start to vent to you. Not only is a sign of trust and vulnerability, but it can even help you to know that person better. (Of course I'm speaking in the context of a healthy relationship with someone and not a random person trying to traumadump on you). I had friends for many, MANY years that I know nothing about them more than what they show in their online spaces, like what series they like, their fandoms, etc. But I also have friends who, at some point, started to vent, sometimes to me, sometimes to the void, and I ended learning about them in a more"human" way. Kinda like a reminder to be empathetic with people online because "they can also suffer just in the way you do".
I think venting can be helpful as a way of introspective. Just now, for example, as I write this I need to "give form" to my thoughts so they can make sense not only to me but to the person who might end reading this. Well, when I vent I also need to do the same, to make my thoughts "coherent", and it's usually at that moment when I start to realize things about me. Those "what I'm feeling" and "why I'm feeling this" start to make sense in the moment I start to think about them so I can write it down.And the moment I end writing about them, since they aren't moving around in my head anymore I also start to feel better.
Despite the thought of "who gives a sh*t?" when you start to write about how you feel, that thought that makes you back up and feel even worst because of "I was about to look like an attention seeker", I think it's important to remember there's always someone who will care. That person it's always you. And if you care about it then it's completely valid. After all, venting is more of a "I need to take this out of my mind and my chest" than a "I wrote this for you my dear reader". So yeah, "who cares?", so go and post it anyways.