As I See It

Since the very first comment I ever received on my site ended in a question about the difference between what was placed in the Rants and Soapbox category, I thought I may as well post a little something about the distinction between the two. At first glance the two may appear to not be so different. They both involve a great deal of passion. Both relate to making a kind of speech. However, when examined closely they connote quite different meanings.

To rant, as defined by Webster, means: a bombastic extravagant speech; to talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner; to scold vehemently. When I rant, I have been set off; be it by something I saw in the media or heard in conversation. Sometimes it’s merely a reaction to a lot of pent up energy or the compulsion to have an opinion about everything. Rarely does a rant carry the weight of a social issue or a serious concern on my heart. No, that is reserved for the Soapbox.

I have heard the term soapbox used throughout my life primarily by my mother. Or by my father clearing off the kitchen table for my mom to stand on when she went into one of her orations. For me, this was a term associated with great passion and emotion about a certain issue or problem in the world. Good ol’ Webster defines it as: an improvised platform used by a self-appointed, spontaneous, or informal orator; broadly: something that provides an outlet for delivering opinions. Where at one time we needed a box (table, chair, voice loud enough to be heard over everyone else), now we have the Internet.

So, since you were wondering, there it is, the difference between two things very close to my heart.