I suppose. People who know me know that I'm safe to vent on, perhaps some others are sensitive enough to know they can let off a little steam in my general direction?
Could be. My own personal demeanor is good natured, smiling, affable but with a low BS tolerance. People I know may ask my opinion now and then, but they don't vent in my direction.
It's probably because soon into the venting, I tell them to just go take care of business, and not just talk about it. :-)
I can be a gruff little fella, I admit.