#i don't use dA anymore but i do log in on tumblr sometimes

[zims-left-antenna]

did the club penguin fandom shift its focus from the penguin band and cadence to the epf ??

it's not bad at all, but I did notice a change in the fandom, y'know

is it because we grew up ??? o.O

[gh0stfellow]

RSS for Artists and the People Who Follow Them

RSS is the best thing for artists that you didn't know still existed. Tired of trying to figure out what new thing you have to do this week to get your posts seen? Tired of keeping up with 8 different websites to follow all the artists you like? Do you hate Musk/Zuckerberg, the general social media experience for artists, endless scrolling, or fractured communities? Use RSS! It's a super simple and comfortable way to experience social media.

Keep reading below for the full how-to!

What is RSS and why should I care?

RSS is a standardized format at a URL that computers can read to monitor updates to a website. When a post gets made, the RSS feed gets updated containing the post's information. An RSS reader is the app you use to view these RSS feeds and subscribe to them. It displays updates to the RSS feed similar to a normal social media dashboard.

There are many more specifics we could get into, but the technical details aren't really what matter here: the main point is that you can use an RSS reader to follow all your favorite people from almost any site and never miss an update, all while being able to view the content at your own pace.

Through simple steps outlined further down, you can follow twitter, instagram, deviant art, youtube, and tumblr accounts, subreddits, personal websites, newsletters, and more! The cool thing is, unlike your twitter or instagram feed, the RSS reader has powerful tools to display the posts exactly to your liking with filters, sorting, AND posts that won't disapear until you mark them as read, so you can kiss FOMO goodbye. Of course, this does mean I don't necessarily recommend you use RSS for your general meme accounts where an endless feed is somewhat ideal, it's much better suited for following creators or others you want to keep up to date on.

I use Inoreader as my RSS reader because it's free (though you can pay for more features), has a good mobile app as well as a browser version, and a good UI that is comfortable for post viewing.

Benefits as a viewer

No algorithms (but you can set filters)

Posts stay until you see them, so you don't have to be online 24/7 to see art you followed for

You can follow people on any* site and see it all in one place

No logging into multiple accounts or checking websites for updates

No ads, sponsored posts - nothing you don't want to see

Benefits as an artist

No algorithms! Format posts any way you like without worrying about getting nerfed

Freedom to post where ever you want

If RSS became standard, you wouldn't have to worry about posting on every social media in existance; anybody can follow you easily, no matter where you are

You'll be able to reach your audience no matter the whims of social media changes

Like having a newsletter without any extra work

How to subscribe to social media feeds through RSS

Here's a quick run down of how subscribing to an RSS feed generally works:

A website exists that has RSS

You type website.com/rss/ into your RSS reader and it sees an active feed

You hit subscribe

Peace on earth is achieved

Of course, sometimes it's not that simple and a website's feed is at a different URL. There might be a little RSS button on the website you can copy the link from, or readers like Inoreader can be given the basic URL and it'll try to find if any RSS feed is attached to it.

In the past, most socials had RSS built in, but this has slowly been phased out in favor of notifications/algorithms. So unfortunately, it's not as simple as it used to be anymore. Fortunately, however, websites like rssbox or RSS-Bridge can automatically turn twitter and other social media profiles into an RSS feed.

Before we get to that, however, there is some great news: some sites, such as tumblr and DeviantArt, still have RSS built in to each profile!

Tumblr feeds are at: https://blogname.tumblr.com/rss (god bless tumblr)

DeviantArt feeds: https://backend.deviantart.com/rss.xml?type=deviation&q=by%3Adeviantname+sort%3Atime+meta%3Aall (as usual, DA likes to over complicate things)

Enter the user name of the person you want to follow in the URL where indicated, remove the asterisks, pop it into your RSS reader and you're good to go.

Youtube channels can also be followed by pasting the channel URL into your reader, where it'll grab the feed for you to follow automatically.

*Note: sometimes, there appears to be small discrepancies between someone's tumbr.com/username url and username.tumblr.com url, and you must use the second for the rss feed link even though clicking on their profile name usually send you to the first link version. If you're having trouble, I recommend going to the user's archive on tumblr and then replacing the word "archive" with "rss" in the URL you're at. This way you'll know your formatting is right.

So what about twitter and other bastard sites? That's where our friends on github who make open source projects come in. As mentioned above, rssbox and RSS-Bridge are both great options. You can host them on your own server, if you're into that kind of thing, to ensure you never lose service and your feeds might get updated faster, but both have free to use websites that make it as easy as:

Copy the profile URL of the person you want to follow

Locate the corresponding social media section on the rssbox/rss-bridge webpage and paste the URL in

Adjust any settings you want

Copy the URL it gives you and subscribe to it in your RSS reader

*Note: Many RSS readers mention having twitter and other social support (usually with a paid subscription), but I've yet to see one that doesn't cap you at like, 20 accounts. This is a ridiculously small number. That said, Feedbro is a reader that is available as a browser extension only and DOES offer real, free, endless social media to RSS feed conversion. Personally, I hate its UI as well as the way it automatically marks things as read, but it's up to you and what works best for you. I probably just missed a reader when I was looking around, so if this matters to you do your research on what reader you use.

Another feed source of note is newsletters. Again, many readers will do this automatically for a price, but I enjoy the website Kill the Newsletter that'll do this for free. You can type in what you want to call the newsletter feed, click generate, and then sign up for the newsletter with the email address it creates for you. You'll then copy the second URL on the page (the one that ends in .xml) and this is what you'll plug into your RSS reader. Done! This is helpful for cleaning out your inbox of emails that you do want to see, but aren't important, and would otherwise end up cluttering up your inbox and burying time sensitive items.

Most websites, RSS feed or not, can have an RSS feed created for them if you're okay with it being a bit hacky. So I highly recommend doing some googling if you're interested in something I haven't mentioned here. You can also sometimes find RSS feeds for a website (if they aren't up front about it) by Inspecting the page and looking in the html head element for a .xtml or rss link. I'm passionate about this, so feel free to send me an ask if you have questions! (but also try to figure it out for yourself first)

How to get your own RSS feed

If you're on any kind of social, someone can follow an RSS feed of your art using the steps outlined above. However, I highly recommend you start posting your work somewhere with RSS built in! You don't have to do any extra work as your RSS feed is automatically made/updated on websites like tumblr and deviant art that still support RSS. I believe cohost might also be adding RSS support soon as well. I recommend following your own RSS feed so you know what is getting sent out.

If you want a space to truly call your own you can easily make a tiny website or blog. There are a lot of options for this, but if you're looking for simplicity I recommend bearblog.dev! Just make an account and start posting and your RSS feed is automatically made at: https://yourblog.bearblog.dev/feed/

Wordpress and Neocities also have built in RSS feeds, and likely a lot of other platforms that advertise blogging.

Now you have an RSS feed! And no worries about engagement from followers - it's easy to click the post link in your reader to a post, comment/like it, and then hop back into your RSS reader. It's made for that, even. Remeber to advertise your RSS feed; I hope they become the norm again, but until that happens you'll probably have to let people know it exists.

Closing Remarks

Listen, I'm realistic about this. I don't think I'm going to make this post and then RSS will return in full force to the internet like wolves being introduced back into Yellowstone. However, I spent years being dissatisfied with how I was forced to engage with artists on social media - the endless scrolling, feeling like "if I don't look at the next post I'll never see this piece of art again", the usual horrors of the internet we've fallen into - and if I can introduce a real solution to that for just one person I'll be happy.

I was born in the 90s and so can remember personal sites and forums, but never learned what RSS was and thought it was only something for power user programmers or stuffy business men. I have a feeling a lot of people have the same misconception, and it pains me to think of people out there that could benefit so much from this if only they knew of it properly. If you have ADHD, this is a game changer, I assure you.

I wish someone would've told me about this years ago. RSS is the answer to a lot of problems artists have. It's been there all along, it just hasn't been properly introduced to the wider community.

So I might not have much reach, but I feel so passionate about this; for the people this could help and the community we could create if we wiggled out from under what corporations have turned the internet into.

And oh, people have tried to fix this, sans RSS. I've watched many art websites come and go claiming to be the one to fix everything, but they usually fail because they divide the community and don't gain traction quickly enough. That, and non-artist support is extremely valuable and usually alienated in these attempts. RSS, on the other hand, is everywhere! Anybody can use it, anybody can follow it, and you aren't restricted to just one thing.

I say RSS is the solution because it's not just RSS. It's a tool that allows you to have the flexibility to make whatever solutions you need and be where ever you need to be on the internet.

RSS used to be everywhere, it used to be advertised - but of course, RSS feeds don't display ads, so it's only natural their head was on the chopping block. So my advice is such: pressure websites to add RSS back in! Make a tiny blog or website! Follow some feeds! Help reclaim the internet and regain control over the content you want to see. You don't have to be stuck in one spot, forced to use platforms you don't like, to see what you want and have your work be seen. Companies want us to consume more and more of what we don't want to see, to make us want to scroll endlessly into a stupor, and they'll do everything in their power to make us think we want it too.

So I dunno, follow some RSS feeds. Could be fun.

[cancersurvivinggingerjew]

Even numbers that don't end or start with 8 for both things

I’m going to assume you meant all three.Not Usually Asked Asks2: Do you take the shampoos and conditioner bottles from hotel?Yes because they want you to, if you don’t they just get thrown away because they can’t know if you’ve messed with them or not

4: Have you ever stolen a street sign before?No

6: Do you cut out coupons but then never use them?Nope

10: What is your biggest pet peeve?People who won’t listen

14: Do you ever dance even if there's no music playing?Sometimes

16: How many people have you slept with this week?0 my firend

20: Do you still watch cartoons?Hell yeah

22: Where would you bury hidden treasure if you had some?I’m not going to tell you, then you’d dig it up!

24: What do you dip a chicken nugget in?BBQ

26: What movies could you watch over and over and still love?Galaxy Quest

30: When was the last time you wrote a letter to someone on paper?A short while ago, to you in fact

32: Ever gotten a speeding ticket?Yes

34: Favorite kind of sandwich?Bologna, Pepperoni, american cheese

36: What is your usual bedtime?HAHAHAHAH

40: How many languages can you speak?1 and bits of others

42: Which are better legos or lincoln logs?Lego Bricks

44: Who is better...Leno or Letterman?Letterman

46: Are you afraid of heights?A bit

50: Ever used a gun?Nope

52: Do you think musicals are cheesy?Yes, but I love them

54: Ever eat a pierogi?Probably

56: Occupations you wanted to be when you were a kid?Architect

60: Wear slippers?Sometimes

62: What do you wear to bed?Not much

64: Wal-Mart, Target or Kmart?Wal-mart

66: Cheetos Or Fritos?Fritos

70: Is there a profession you picture your future spouse doing?Nah

72: Ever won a spelling bee?Nope

74: Own any record albums?Not personally

76: Regularly burn incense?Nope

90: Can you knit or crochet?Nope

92: Do you want to get married?Yes

96: Do you have kids?No

99: Do you miss anyone right now?Many People

Distract Me Asks2: Think of the last person who hurt you; do you forgive them?Yeah

4: What’s something you really want right now?Love

6: Do you like the beach?Yes

10: Do you like your phone?Yes

12: Who was the last person whose phone number you added to your contacts?Probably you Val

14: Which hurts the most, physical or emotional pain?Emotional

16: Are you tired?Always

20: When did you last talk to the last person you shared a kiss with?A long time ago

22: Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?Probably not

24: Is there a certain quote you live by?Not anymore

26: Do you have any tattoos?Nope

30: Think to the last person you kissed, have you ever kissed them on a couch?Yes

32: Do you have a friend of the opposite sex you can talk to?I have many people of differing gender identities than mine that I can talk to

34: Has anyone ever told you you have pretty eyes?No

36: Were you single on Valentines Day?Yes

40: Have you ever cried over a text?Not that I can think of

42: What is it from??

44: Who was the last person you were on the phone with?My Mom

46: Do you wear hats if your having a bad hair day?No

50: Top 3 web-pages?Tumblr, facebook, youtube

52: Does anything on your body hurt?My brain

54: What was the last beverage you spilled on yourself?Water

56: What do you usually do first in the morning?struggle to get up

60: When’s the next time you will give someone a BIG hug?Probably tonight when we hang out

62: When will be the next time you text someone?No clue

64: What were you doing at 8 this morning.Getting out of bed... slowly

66: Is there one person in your life that can always make you smile?Yeah

70: How many windows are open on your computer?6

72: What is your ringtone?Default

74: Where is your Mum right now?Home

76: Have you held hands with somebody in the past three days?Nope

90: Have you ever trusted someone too much?Yeah

92: Do you get along with girls?Yes

94: Does sex mean love?No

96: Have you ever kissed anyone with a lip ring?I don’t think so. Not yet anyway

100: Who was the last person that you pinky promise?Probably my mom

Honesty Hour Asks2. Are you outgoing or shy?Outgoing

4. Are you easy to get along with?I like to think so

6. What kind of people are you attracted to?friendly people

10. Who was the last person you had a deep conversation with?You

12. What are your 5 favorite songs right now?“Good Kid” from the Percy Jackson Musical, and thats about it right now. I keep it on repeat

14. Do you believe in luck and miracles?Yes

16. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?Nah

20. Do you like your neighbors?Yeah

22. Where would you like to travel?To my friends’ houses

24. Favorite part of your daily routine?Sleeping

26. What do you do when you wake up?Complain

30. Do you ever want to get married?Yes

32. Which celebrities would you have a threesome with?I’m too tired to think about this right now

34. Do you play sports? What sports?Quidditch

36. Have you ever liked someone and never told them?Nope, I’ve got a big mouth

40. What do you want to do after high school?Suffer less, but that didn’t work out

42. If your being extremely quiet what does it mean?I’m dead

44. Trip to outer space or bottom of the ocean?Outer Space

46. What are you paranoid about?Everything

50. What was the colour of the last hoodie you wore?Gray

52. One thing you wish you could change about yourself?Too nice

54. Favourite store?Marbles Brain Store

56. Favourite colour?Green

60. Ever won a competition? For what?Not that I can think of, besides trivia

62. Been arrested? For what?Nope

64. Tell us the story of your first kiss?I don’t remember honestly

66. Do you like your tumblr friends more than your real friends?Most of them ARE my real friends

70. Names of your bestfriends? Valerie (das you), Cameron, Victoria, Dan, Tom, Chelsi, there are a lot of them

72. What colour are your towels?Various

72. How many pillows do you sleep with?2

74. How many stuffed animals do you think you have?Too many to count

76. What colour is your underwear?Black atm

90. Name a person you love?You!

92. In a fight with someone?Nope

94. How many sweaters/hoodies do you have?Like 4

96. Favourite actress?Auli’i Cravalho

100. How are you feeling?Eh

102. Do you regret anything from your past?Yes

104. Do you miss anyone from your past?Many people

106. Ever broken someone’s heart?Probably

110. Have you ever liked someone so much it hurt?Yeah

112. Who was the last person you cried in front of?My Dad I think

114. Have you ever been out of your province/state?Yes

116. Are you listening to music right now?Nope

120. Are you afraid of the dark?Not really

122. Is cheating ever okay?No

124. Do you believe in love at first sight?Maybe

126. Are you currently bored?Yes

130. Do you like subway?Yes

132. Who’s the last person you had a deep conversation with?You

134. Can you count to one million?Yes? What kind of question is this?

136. Do you sleep with your doors open or closed?Closed because my roommates are not okay with nudity

140. Summer or Winter?Summer

142. Favourite month?May

144. Dark, milk or white chocolate?Milk

146. Was today a good day?So far yeah

150. Get the closest book next to you, open it to page 42, what’s the first lineIt’s an art book, and 42-43 happens to be a two page spread image with no words on it, and the focus of the image is on 43 so it’s literally just grass with a castle in the background

Thanks for asking Val!