I’ve observed if I say nothing (because I simply don’t know how to react), opinionated people think you agree with them, which I don’t. I don’t care.
what I want to tell him, next time he starts ranting: ‘I don’t care what you think, leave me alone’.
However, I may have to work with this person in the future, so what about ‘you don’t have to tell me everything you think, most of the time I don’t pay attention’ and if he keeps pushing it ‘it’s tiring working with a person who has to rant to feel good, it’s boring and makes me ignore you, which is a problem, because we work together.’ And leave.
What about ‘everybody has problems, maybe talk to a therapist? I cannot help you’.
Or maybe simply leaving when he starts his rants?
Say to them.
Look. I see you’re very heated on this subject, but I can’t afford to care right now. I don’t want to get worked up about this. All this conversation is going to do is bum me out or make me agitated. It’s not good for my work environment. I’m just trying to concentrate on my work and hopefully get through the day in a better mood than when it started.