‘Despite the social benefits of venting, people can easily overdo it’

‘The common friendship behavior that has become strangely fraught’

Julie Beck at The Atlantic

A “boogeyman haunts the realm of friendship advice: the friend who vents too much,” says Julie Beck. Venting has “lately gotten very loud.” It is “complex; it can bring people closer, but it can also be emotionally draining,” but if “people avoid sharing problems with one another, their relationships risk becoming less rich — and less rewarding.” Friends “owe one another, at least, compassion...