What is the real purpose of a rant and what does this say about the ranter?

In my opinion is ranting not just a nice way of saying you want to ***** about something? What good can come from a rant? Is a rant good when they hurt people? If you are friends with someone and you rant about something they do is this good? Why not talk to them?What is the real purpose of a rant and what does this say about the ranter?
It depends on the context. A rant can let off steam, but your anger could possibly hurt people and then make the situation worse. On the other hand, there's such a thing as a playful or humorous rant. Those can be fun and can make people laugh. A rant can indicate a bitter person, or it can show that a person has a good sense of humor. It depends on what type of rant it is.