Is Venting the Same as Gossip?

The Catechism explains when talking about things becomes sinful:

Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty:

– of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor;
– of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them;
– of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them (2477).

Venting in the sense of just getting something “off our chest” does not include any of the things listed above. So if we were to determine some key differences between venting and gossip I would say the former:

• Has no intention of what is said being spread to anyone else
• Takes no joy in exposing someone else’s fault(s)
• Does not carelessly relate false or incomplete information
• Seeks no harm to another’s reputation
• Seeks no harm to another and no exaltation of self
• Takes place at an appropriate time and place with someone who can reasonably be trusted.