Comments on: RSS and Information Overload http://www.ia-blog.com/2006/03/01/rss-and-information-overload/ A blog by Robert Berkman, Editor, The Information Advisor Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:56:38 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Robert Berkman http://www.ia-blog.com/2006/03/01/rss-and-information-overload/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Robert Berkman Sun, 05 Mar 2006 22:39:00 +0000 http://iablog.onlineinc.com/?p=4#comment-12 I go back and forth myself on how important it really is to have an RSS reader to keep up with incoming news and blog postings--while certainly convenient, even in a perfectly structured and organized reader, there is still a sense of getting too much information. <br/><br/>My preference for learning and keeping up is still to skim favorite sources both offline and on; perform keyword searches on Google, Google News and other search engines and databases; find experts and key bloggers, and ask them my own questions to truly "customize" information that is meaningful for me.<br/><br/>This to me feels more active rather than being a passive reader and recipient of the feeds as they flow into my PC.<br/><br/>Norman Mailer recently complained that the Internet has made knowledge acquisition "too easy". It's something I've been thinking about. I think that perhaps he was referring to the more passive nature of clicking links and browsing the Web as the extent of our thinking about research. For many more savvy Internet users today, the passive reading of feeds may present similar problems. I go back and forth myself on how important it really is to have an RSS reader to keep up with incoming news and blog postings–while certainly convenient, even in a perfectly structured and organized reader, there is still a sense of getting too much information.

My preference for learning and keeping up is still to skim favorite sources both offline and on; perform keyword searches on Google, Google News and other search engines and databases; find experts and key bloggers, and ask them my own questions to truly “customize” information that is meaningful for me.

This to me feels more active rather than being a passive reader and recipient of the feeds as they flow into my PC.

Norman Mailer recently complained that the Internet has made knowledge acquisition “too easy”. It’s something I’ve been thinking about. I think that perhaps he was referring to the more passive nature of clicking links and browsing the Web as the extent of our thinking about research. For many more savvy Internet users today, the passive reading of feeds may present similar problems.

]]> By: Alexei http://www.ia-blog.com/2006/03/01/rss-and-information-overload/comment-page-1/#comment-11 Alexei Sat, 04 Mar 2006 10:35:00 +0000 http://iablog.onlineinc.com/?p=4#comment-11 Most helpful feature in NewzCrawler to reduce information overload is a smart folders. You can setup a set of smart folders that will mark interesting news for you, delete spam, notify you about news arrival. Most helpful feature in NewzCrawler to reduce information overload is a smart folders. You can setup a set of smart folders that will mark interesting news for you, delete spam, notify you about news arrival.

]]> By: eduard http://www.ia-blog.com/2006/03/01/rss-and-information-overload/comment-page-1/#comment-10 eduard Fri, 03 Mar 2006 02:53:00 +0000 http://iablog.onlineinc.com/?p=4#comment-10 I wrote and use <a HREF="http://zaptxt.com" REL="nofollow">zaptxt.com</a>. It's a service that allows you to filter RSS feeds and to get notified via email or SMS when a new RSS post contains the keyword phrase I specified. It's not exactly an RSS Reader, but more of an RSS manager, weeding out stuff you don't need. It helps me locate the information I need without needing an RSS Reader. Anyway, FYI. I wrote and use zaptxt.com. It’s a service that allows you to filter RSS feeds and to get notified via email or SMS when a new RSS post contains the keyword phrase I specified. It’s not exactly an RSS Reader, but more of an RSS manager, weeding out stuff you don’t need. It helps me locate the information I need without needing an RSS Reader. Anyway, FYI.

]]> By: Jill Hurst-Wahl http://www.ia-blog.com/2006/03/01/rss-and-information-overload/comment-page-1/#comment-9 Jill Hurst-Wahl Fri, 03 Mar 2006 02:05:00 +0000 http://iablog.onlineinc.com/?p=4#comment-9 Robert, I use Bloglines and often mark/save stories to read later. Unfortunately, I've been busy, so the backlog is big, but now I find that the cream floats to the top and I can quickly see what of that backlog I need to read.<br/><br/>BTW On a day-to-day basis, I do read many posts and skim many, too. (I'm big on skimming...) And I save a few for later.<br/><br/>Bloglines allows for categories, marking an RSS feed as private (great if I'm tracking something for a client), marking posts to read later, and even clipping posts to save permenantly.<br/><br/>I look forward to reading you blog! Robert, I use Bloglines and often mark/save stories to read later. Unfortunately, I’ve been busy, so the backlog is big, but now I find that the cream floats to the top and I can quickly see what of that backlog I need to read.

BTW On a day-to-day basis, I do read many posts and skim many, too. (I’m big on skimming…) And I save a few for later.

Bloglines allows for categories, marking an RSS feed as private (great if I’m tracking something for a client), marking posts to read later, and even clipping posts to save permenantly.

I look forward to reading you blog!

]]>