How do you differentiate the two?
are they really different things? or venting is just a more politically correct term for it?
what you say?
Re: Venting aka Gheebat(Backbiting)
Venting doesn't have to be backbiting.
You could vent about what a crappy day you had... Doesn't have to include anyone, if anyone, that was included in making your day crappy.
Venting about something being a crappy person... Yea I suppose that is backbiting.
Re: Venting aka Gheebat(Backbiting)
Islamic definition of Gheebat:
**
Gheebat is something where someone talks to a person about someone else in his/her absence which may or may NOT be true AND he/she will never say talk about those allegations/facts in the presence of the person in question. if the accuser's accusations are NOT true then he/she is also guilty of another crime/sin called 'bohtaan taraashii' [false accusations].**
Islam strictly forbids backbiting and likens it to eating FLESH of his/her dead brother.
Re: Venting aka Gheebat(Backbiting)
Venting isn't always talking negatively about someone but backbiting is..
Re: Venting aka Gheebat(Backbiting)
Sure we can debate about the semantics. True that venting can be not about other people, but frankly, what percentage of venting do you come across that is NOT people related? and not negative about them?
Re: Venting aka Gheebat(Backbiting)
1) Backbiting = You always mention who/what/where/when etc. Venting = The "who" part of often left unsaid. General terms like co-worker, one of my friends, an aunty at the wedding I went to etc. should be used. Everything should be done to protect the actual identity of the person who's causing our anger/frustration. Hubby and I vent about work to each other regularly but never mention the specific names of the clients or co-workers.
2) ^ Above can get tricky when it comes to venting about spouses, parent etc. Its also important to pay attention to what we're saying. There is a big difference between saying "I'm upset/annoyed/angry b/c my hubby did xyz".....as opposed to saying "my hubby is a jerk b/c he did xyz".
3) Venting is more about how we feel about something we're going through or if we're angry/frustrated at witnessing a situation. Backbiting is simply for the sole purpose of making someone else look bad.
Re: Venting aka Gheebat(Backbiting)
Yep agree with the above. There is a difference. Can vent about how your day went, ex. traffic, lots of customers, too much work and too little time, your feet hurting from your heels, etc. How is that gheebat?
It's healthy to vent. As oppose to bottling up things and blowing up? Not cool.
Re: Venting aka Gheebat(Backbiting)
Sure we can debate about the semantics. True that venting can be not about other people, but frankly, what percentage of venting do you come across that is NOT people related? and not negative about them?
Mr. Mard,
What the hecknis this thread doing in Life? Surely you should know it belongs in Philosophy forum? Are you feeling OK?
This is venting w/o being negative abt specific person.
Re: Venting aka Gheebat(Backbiting)
I would think exchanging multiple PMs to resolve disputes in a non transparent manner would be back biting. Unfortunately, back biting is considered AOK, but being direct is sanitized. Group think is encouraged.
This post is an example of front biting.
Re: Venting aka Gheebat(Backbiting)
Shouldn’t really matter if venting about someone in a pure negative sense happens on a less frequency scale compared to the latter though, the negativity just needs to be avoided completely every single time the radio is on.
Besides, I think doing it right on their face is alot more worth the trouble than is the struggle venting about them behind their back.
Just sayin’. 
Re: Venting aka Gheebat(Backbiting)
If you're direct and upfront with people, they like it way less. Then you become the mean guy.
Re: Venting aka Gheebat(Backbiting)
The difference is pretty obvious isn't it?
Venting is viewed as more of personal thing people do to feel better.
Backbiting is actually hurtful to other people.
Re: Venting aka Gheebat(Backbiting)
If you're direct and upfront with people, they like it way less. Then you become the mean guy.
And if you're not upfront with people, you become the evil girl. Happy to be mean.