Dragging you down with me

I'm not a complainer. Let me rephrase that: I'm not one to complain to anyone who can actually remedy the situation. I don't send food back when it's gross; I don't call the insurance people when our (cough *overpriced*) insurance doesn't cover a routine exam; hell, I don't even complain to the parking lot attendant when he overcharges me (which doesn't happen that often, to be honest). And, clearly, I don't complain to a bed and breakfast owner whose bed is breaking my back and whose breakfast I've not tasted but have been made to feel guilty for missing. That said, and as this blog clearly evidences, I'll complain loudly and often to anyone else who'll listen. Why is that? I know I'm not alone in this trait, this willingness to go along to get along, to not make waves, to make lemonade, and so on and so forth. Why do so many of us seem perfectly happy to whine about our problems to anyone but those who ought to know about them?