"Just add RSS"-type instablog needed

October 22, 2009 2:47 PM

Recommend a free blog provider that can use an RSS feed as a source for content, but also has a decent comment system.

I know Tumblr can create blogs that translate RSS feeds into Tumblr blogs, but - by design - they don't have a robust comment system. You can try to drop in something like Disqus, but I've tried that before, and the results are ugly.

Why I'm looking for this: A friend of mine would like to take his Google Reader shared items feed and present it as a blog that strangers can comment on without too much trouble.

posted by ignignokt to technology (7 answers total)

Not actually a blogging platform, but an easy way to share content and comments with networking is Friendfeed.
posted by misha at 2:57 PM on October 22, 2009

In a similar vein, you can import RSS articles as Notes on Facebook. Comments are linear on there (what exactly are you looking for in a "decent" system?) but it's quick and functional and many people use it. Your friend can adjust privacy settings to allow or deny access to it as desired. Sorry I don't have exactly what you're looking for!
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 3:02 PM on October 22, 2009

Thanks for the suggestions!

Basically, the content is scholarly commentary on various links.

So, he'd like anyone to be able to post a comment (Captchas, basic registration, are fine, etc.) and would like to avoid connecting this to his real name. By decent, I mean that, but also something that's not a hack like Disqus on Tumblr.

FriendFeed might work, but something that has a "more bloggy than social network" presentation would be preferred.
posted by ignignokt at 3:24 PM on October 22, 2009

I think most of these aggregator services prefer to not run a database. You could probably hack up one of the more popular blog tools to syndicate from rss. Here's one, but you know what they say about running random code you find on the internet.
posted by pwnguin at 3:44 PM on October 22, 2009

And a bit more complicated version.
posted by pwnguin at 3:46 PM on October 22, 2009

Livejournal syndication?
posted by We had a deal, Kyle at 4:46 PM on October 22, 2009

Oh, I forgot about LiveJournal syndication! I used to do that, myself. That would make for a good solution for your friend, I think.
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 9:19 PM on October 22, 2009