What to do about RSS
Robert Scoble takes a crack at the question of how to make RSS simple for users. I agree that we should make things simple for readers whenever possible. I have even argued in this space in the past to come up with another, more user-friendly name for RSS.
But then I got to thinking. Are we in search of a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist? We diehards love RSS because we read a ton of stuff every day. But what about the average user? Do they read that much? Do they want to? Most people simply aren’t voracious readers — no matter the medium.
How different are RSS subscription rates to the old email subscription rates for news and information sites? Aren’t most web site readers casual visitors and not diehard devotees?
I don’t know that there isn’t a problem, but I’d like to hear a better case for what specifically that problem is.