However, What about asking for advice? It seems that is not detrimental to establishing relationships for asking for advice is an expression of trust, trust in one's ability to council someone properly. The difference between venting and searching for advice is that in that in the act of venting, one doesn't care what the other person thinks. The "friend" is merely being used.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
The difference between venting and searching for advice.
In our last class, the topic of venting was some what of a major focus. Many people in the class , myself included, initially held reservations about whether or not venting has negative affects on relationships or is simply a way for people to discuss and relate their days. After our discussion, I can admit that I often over-vent, and believe that while venting allows people to get things off their chest, it has the potential to deteriorate relationships overtime. This is something that I feel Aristotle would agree with for he states "Friendship arises less among people of sour disposition and among those who are older, to the extent that they are harder to get along with and take less pleasure in company"(1158a 30). As in if you are constantly complaining about your day, it is less likely that people will want to become friends with you.
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I agree with your statement that when we are venting to a friend just to get it out instead of listening to the advice we are using that friend.And, with time that could get very annoying and dissolve the bonds of "friendship".
ReplyDeleteBut if a true friendship, I think and feel like both people should be able to vent to each other and let off steam. The friend listening would care more about the person venting than they would about themself. Therefore, they wouldn't be anooyed at the venting. They would realize that it is for that persons best intrest to get every thing off their chest.