# Sometimes a rant is just a rant **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 18, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804 "2003-06-18T23:08:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/1 "2003-06-18T23:08:51Z")
If someone comes into the Pit and blows off steam about something, is it _required_ that everything s/he says be dissected and challenged? Or can they be allowed to simply vent a little, get it out of their system, enjoy a few “Hell yeahs!” and move on? I’ve noticed a trend lately that unless you post the most innocuous rant (which in and of themselves get the oft-quoted “Lamest. Rant. Ever.” responses), the OP gets their ass handed to them for something they write in their rant, even when it’s obvious the person is having a bad day, things have built up to a full head of steam, and they just need to bitch for a minute, regardless of their true attitudes or feelings. Are we no longer entitled to that? That would be sad. ☹ (That’s me looking sad.) In all honesty, I just want to discuss the idea. Esprix, fully expecting to be taken to task for posting this, as someone out there will find it painfully witty :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/2 "2003-06-18T23:14:18Z")
You are absolutely correct. Didn’t see that one comin’, didja? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/3 "2003-06-18T23:15:40Z")
For once, **Esprix** I am right here to back you up. However, you might take into account the fact that the Pit is being somewhat overused these days. When 100 people a day post rather lame rants on normal things that pretty much anybody will rub into, you become a little desensitized. It may not be right, but hey. And you don’t see me starting new Pit threads all the time! No sir-ree! Only one or two. Ever. That I can remember. Oh yeah, forgot to mention: Screw you **Esprix**! Get a fucking clue! You’re not the boss of us! ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/4 "2003-06-18T23:22:24Z")
Oh, and before anyone says it (and I know they will), yes, I fully admit I’ve done it before myself. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/5 "2003-06-18T23:38:44Z")
I agree to much of this, I thought FK’s ‘Fuck you all’ pit thread was closed unnecessarily it was clear he/she was having a bad day and just wanted to burn off steam, and it made a challenge of trying to create humor to lighten his/her day. Oh an **Esprix** that was the “Lamest. Rant. Ever.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![d\_redguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@d\_redguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d_redguy)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/6 "2003-06-18T23:44:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Esprix \* > \*\*Oh, and before anyone says it (and I know they will), yes, I fully admit I’ve done it before myself. > > Esprix \*\* Hmm. Well, we’ll stone you **next** week. Though your sin is grevious, these 2 guys made this Christian pr0n website and…well…they’ve got priority. Anyhoo, the fact that you acknowledge that you’ve done this in the past and are ranting about it now will just serve to make you more aware of pissing on someone’s rant in the future, IMHO. Good on ya. ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/7 "2003-06-18T23:55:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Esprix \* > **Or can they be allowed to simply vent a little, get it out of their system, enjoy a few “Hell yeahs!” and move on?** In all honesty, no. This is a mesage board that specializes in finding the underlying truths in whatever the subject is at hand and so we discuss _everything_, ranging from chemical reactions to geopolitics to words ending in “-gry”. If someone posts a rant about their neighbor’s loud pet duck, this wouldn’t be the SDMB if there wasn’t at least some discussion on the myth that a duck’s quack doesn’t echo. Besides, it would be pretty boring if all we did was sit around and agree with each other. ---
**Author:** ![macabresoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e68b1a/32.png) [@macabresoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/macabresoul)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2003, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/8 "2003-06-18T23:59:57Z")
I so totally agree with you here. It seems anyone who rants these days gets critiqued on all the ways thier rant doesn’t meet the neccisary criteria of a proper rant. It usually ends in flame wars (I know my first rant did), and in the end nothing is solved except the poor ranter is probably even more pissed off about the situation. Haha about the christian porn website, yes i do believe they get first dibs on the stone I shalt cast at thier arses. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/9 "2003-06-19T00:50:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by A Monkey With a Gun \* > \*\*In all honesty, no. This is a mesage board that specializes in finding the underlying truths in whatever the subject is at hand and so we discuss _everything_, ranging from chemical reactions to geopolitics to words ending in “-gry”. If someone posts a rant about their neighbor’s loud pet duck, this wouldn’t be the SDMB if there wasn’t at least some discussion on the myth that a duck’s quack doesn’t echo. Besides, it would be pretty boring if all we did was sit around and agree with each other. \*\* I disagree!!! :mad: 😉 ---
**Author:** ![lezlers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@lezlers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lezlers)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/10 "2003-06-19T00:57:17Z")
I feel you **Esprix**. I’ve wanted to post some rants here over the past couple of months but I never went through with it b/c they were sensitive topics and I didn’t think I could handle some fuck head picking it apart just for the sake of picking it apart. That’s not right. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/11 "2003-06-19T01:00:16Z")
If you don’t want responses and discussion, put it in your Live Journal. The whole point of message boards, in my opinion, is for discussion of issues. Here in the Pit, we get to be a little more rude about it and use more colorful language. If you must post it here, and you really don’t want discussion, preface the rant with a statement that you’re just blowing off steam and you need to vent. How are we supposed to tell if someone wants to argue or if they’re only venting? Haj ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/12 "2003-06-19T01:05:23Z")
Well, I think it depends on the rant and the comments, naturally. Is there anything particular you’re referring to, **Esprix**? ---
**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/13 "2003-06-19T01:10:05Z")
:rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: It’s just not a Pit thread if someone doesn’t overuse the rolleyes smiley. :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/14 "2003-06-19T01:24:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \* > **If you don’t want responses and discussion, put it in your Live Journal.** Yes, put it in your Live Journal and disable comments to that particular entry. Otherwise, people just might comment on it when you don’t want them to. Or, even better… create a blog without a comment utility (like [**SPOZ** ’s](http://spoz.blogspot.com) and [mine](http://flamsterette.blogspot.com))… then you’ll definitely not get any comments or discussion. Either of those would work… or just put it in your offline journals (my affectionate nickname for the one I have is “the eternal update”)… that’ll definitely work. (unless, of course, it gets into the wrong hands…) F\_X ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/15 "2003-06-19T01:28:08Z")
Frankly, I like it the way it is. Keeps you on your toes. ---
**Author:** ![Flamsterette\_X](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/41988e/32.png) [@Flamsterette\_X](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flamsterette_X)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/16 "2003-06-19T01:29:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hajario \* > **If you don’t want responses and discussion, put it in your Live Journal.** Yes, put it in your Live Journal and disable comments to that particular entry. Otherwise, people just might comment on it when you don’t want them to. Or, even better… create a blog without a comment utility (like [**SPOZ** ’s](http://spoz.blogspot.com) and [mine](http://flamsterette.blogspot.com))… then you’ll definitely not get any comments or discussion. Either of those would work… or just put it in your offline journals (my affectionate nickname for the one I have is “the eternal update”)… that’ll definitely work. (unless, of course, it gets into the wrong hands…) F\_X ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/17 "2003-06-19T02:01:05Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by **hajario** _ > > If you must post it here, and you really don’t want discussion, preface the rant with a statement that you’re just blowing off steam and you need to vent. How are we supposed to tell if someone wants to argue or if they’re only venting? Doesn’t work. Seems disclaimers never do around here anymore. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![samarm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@samarm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samarm)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/18 "2003-06-19T02:10:07Z")
I like it the way it is. So what if people pick your rant apart - its all part of the pit experience. Better this way than to have (for example) a stupid/ignorant OP go unchallenged simply because its a rant. Not talking about your OP, btw Esprix! In fact your OP is a good example of why argument and discussion is healthy. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/19 "2003-06-19T02:14:48Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Miller_ > **Frankly, I like it the way it is. Keeps you on your toes.** I agree. If everytime something pissed someone off, they posted about it “just to blow off steam,” this place would be overrun with “I hate my boss” or “ARRRGH! My girlfriend!” threads (not that we don’t have a plethora of those types already). I like this place for the same reason it frustrates me: everyone is held accountable for everything they say. The Pit is no exception to that rule. Happy ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2003, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804/20 "2003-06-19T02:24:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by lezlers \* > **I feel you Esprix**. :eek: **Esprix** , I agree with you too. I get tired of there being some sort of “entertaining” standard in the Pit, as though the OPs have to please the masses, or else get dissed. If I post something completely lame in most other forums, it will likely be ignored. But in the Pit I’ll be told what a waste of time it was for me to post it, or that my rant rated 0-point-something on somebody’s scale. Whatever. If people are not entertained, it’s not my problem. actually I’m too timid to post many Pit OPs at all. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sometimes-a-rant-is-just-a-rant/182804.md?page=2)