> A general question: Does anyone else here write rant files?
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> For those who do not know, a rant file is (at least to me) a simple text document containing one's thoughts. It is not unlike a diary, in that it is usually updated somewhat regularly, but the name "rant file" is indicative of the fact that it is mainly a place for one to vent, releasing negative thoughts and emotions.
>
> I am working on a rant file right now. It is (in my opinion) small, being just under 17 KB at the moment, and covers a broad range of topics. I am finding that it contains no anger; mostly it is sad.
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> I guess I am asking this because I would like to know: What are other people's motivations for creating such documents? How do they usually meet their end? (Do you delete them, keep them forever...?) Do you ever show them to anyone else? I'm sure I have a lot more questions I could ask, but none spring to mind off hand. I am finding myself tempted to show my work to others someday, simply because I am VERY extroverted and like to reveal such things to others so that they may know me better. I like the thought of revealing this in particular, because it was not written with the intent that others see it, so it is raw me... If I don't talk about something in there, it is because I don't want to think about it either, and what I do say in there is not filtered to put on a cheery face or avoid causing hurt. Of course, I could never release it here, because there are some things in it which are not in compliance with Rule 1 of the Message Forum policy.
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> I am in kind of a weird place right now, so this post may come off as a little weird. I don't even sais si j'ecrit en Anglais maintenant. (OK, not too weird a place... I can still work in a little humor.) Anyway, I appreciate anyone's thoughts or comments on this subject.
>
> Don "The Monkey'I guess that's all I have to say about that for now'man" Jackson


Just for the record, I used to call them R&R notes. That means Rant and Rave. I used to have a drawer full, but since I quit teaching, I don't need them any more.

Check out "The Vent" in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It seems like it's AJC.com or something brief like that.
Howard