Riding the clutch is defined as having your foot resting (or more) on the pedal while the car is in gear. It decreases the pressure on the clutch (slightly if resting) causing slip, and, puts pressure on your throwout bearing, putting a lot more wear on it. Kind of like riding the brakes...
Clutches can take a LOT of abuse and neglect - unlike 20 years ago. Sitting at a stoplight, technically you should be in neutral and not touch the clutch until you can safely enguage the clutch into 1st gear completely....but people sit at a light with it in 1st gear, clutch pedal to the floor (or almost...), and they seem to hold up for 100K+
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