If it is, what is a good way to get into it?

I use google reader because it keeps my feeds in a central location and they cache old feeds waay back.

RSS is usually a tough way to keep track of a web forum, since it's hit/miss as to what they include in the feed, but because of their irregular schedules, RSS is really the only way to keep track of blogs and (if they happen to support them) web comics.

I played aroudn with the feed support in opera for a while, but in the end I just got annoyed with it.  So many sites seem to truncate the fuck out of the RSS versions of thier posts, that 99% of the time I just wound up having to click through to the site anyway.  

At that point why bother?

Quote from: J ArcaneI played aroudn with the feed support in opera for a while, but in the end I just got annoyed with it.  So many sites seem to truncate the fuck out of the RSS versions of thier posts, that 99% of the time I just wound up having to click through to the site anyway.  

At that point why bother?

I don't mind clicking through to the site to read an article; I use RSS to inform me when there's an update to a website that doesn't frequently update. Take, for example http://www.alistapart.com/ , which is a website featuring CSS tips for web developers. They update once a month, but I usually forget to swing by there. Now that I use RSS, I don't have to remember to swing by to check for an update, I have a nice little indicator *telling* me that there's an update.

Also, most web comics tend to irregular updates. Some are like clockwork, but most are day-to-day, sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon. If they support RSS (which quite a few do), I just subscribe to the feed and wait for it to update. Beats the hell out of trolling through a list of comics, then having to come back so that I don't miss today's comic.

Quote from: ElectroKittyI don't mind clicking through to the site to read an article; I use RSS to inform me when there's an update to a website that doesn't frequently update. Take, for example http://www.alistapart.com/ , which is a website featuring CSS tips for web developers. They update once a month, but I usually forget to swing by there. Now that I use RSS, I don't have to remember to swing by to check for an update, I have a nice little indicator *telling* me that there's an update.

Also, most web comics tend to irregular updates. Some are like clockwork, but most are day-to-day, sometimes in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon. If they support RSS (which quite a few do), I just subscribe to the feed and wait for it to update. Beats the hell out of trolling through a list of comics, then having to come back so that I don't miss today's comic.

I can see that.  I guess most of the sites I use I manage to recall or visit frequently enough that I dont' really need the reminding.

Technically I do also use an RSS aggregator already, in the form of Gametab.com, but that's pretty much the extent of things.

Quote from: J ArcaneI can see that.  I guess most of the sites I use I manage to recall or visit frequently enough that I dont' really need the reminding.

Like this one?

In truth, RSS ain't all that great for web forums. It's great for online periodicals, blogs, and comics, tho.

Quote from: ElectroKittyLike this one?

In truth, RSS ain't all that great for web forums. It's great for online periodicals, blogs, and comics, tho.

Comics and blogs were mainly what I've used them for.  At one point I think I even RSS'd my own LJ friend's page, partly because for some reason Opera never autochecks for a new page on my LJ, so the result is that an RSS feed would actualyl be clearer as to what's new and what isn't.

Quote from: J ArcaneComics and blogs were mainly what I've used them for.  At one point I think I even RSS'd my own LJ friend's page, partly because for some reason Opera never autochecks for a new page on my LJ, so the result is that an RSS feed would actualyl be clearer as to what's new and what isn't.

Wow.... so you instantly know when you're more popular? Kewl!

Quote from: ElectroKittyWow.... so you instantly know when you're more popular? Kewl!

Hah!

Nah, I mostly just use it to keep track of my friends in Vancouver, though most of 'em don't post any more.

I already know no-one reads my LJ, mainly because I never post anything to it.

Dunno why exactly, but I decided to ressurect this post to say that I now use Google Reader to read feeds, and it's actually pretty nice. It helps me scan and read from my favorite sites quick and easy. It's also helped keep my tabs under control too, so I gotta say that RSS readers can be a big asset for a internet nut. Props to ElectroKitty.

Ty, Ty.

Now I'm just waiting for the Google IM client to integrate with the reader... then I'll be on cloud 10.