There is a debate (discussion?) going on between Dave Winer and Robert Scoble about the naming of RSS feeds and the ubiquitous orange XML icon, its function and its relation to RSS.
I agree with Dave and many others -- RSS is RSS just like Kleenex is Kleenex and Coke is Coke. I am sure no "branding consultant" would choose those names, but now that they exist and have traction, there is no need to change the name-- in fact it would be brand suicide. However, the relation to the XML icon is more tenuous. Dave explains the history of the icon (did he really create it that way pandering to Steve Ballmer?) -- and though I have no reason to doubt his account as accurate, it still doesn't justify its existence in its present form and usage.
I think the time has come to develop and push a standard strategy for web based subscription links to RSS feeds. Who else can better do this than Microsoft? The infamous orange XML icon just doesn't cut it in my opinion. In its present form(s?) it is just too confusing. If a naive user clicks on the graphic, they either get undecipherable XML gloop or a web page that is confusing to the regular user and even for more experienced users. There is no explanation or indication even by association that this is what you use to subscribe to the RSS feed for the site. Dave's tool tip explanation is just not enough(and in fact is probably adding to the confusion). Various aggregators have invented strategies for easing RSS subscription difficulties (like adding a right click menu item like Intravnews and others do) but there is no consistency.
Many new or wannabee webloggers understand the concepts involved in writing an online journal but the concept of RSS feeds, RSS aggregators/readers seems to just go right over their heads. I think the lack of a standardized, easily explainable subscription process is largely the cause of that lack of understanding.
Subscribing via RSS to weblogs and other sites is becoming too important a process to allow the confusion to continue. Now is a good time to solve that subscription process weakness. Maybe education/dissemination of RSS wisdom is all that is required (but I doubt that).
Regardless, I wish Dave Winer, Robert Scoble, Microsoft and the other players would work together to solve this problem rather than bickering. Or maybe that is really what is happening?
