Go ahead and vent.
A study from UCLA found that venting isn’t just about emotional release – it’s actually a means of boosting your social status. Researchers found across several experiments that venting consistently led to listeners liking the venter more than the target of their venting.
For example: when you complain about one friend to another, you may be unconsciously trying to make yourself look better as well as strengthening your bond with the listener.
Source: Study Finds