Use a guide to get through it quickly, it's a great game though, especially for it's time.

I've skipped the entire seires and I feel OK about it. Like you though, I feel like I should play through it all... Right after I play through Metal Gear Solid, God of War and KillZone.

To be honest I done the exact same thing as you. I bought HL from Steam during that 99cents deal and didn't manage to finish it yet I'm a HL universe fanatic. I think if you read Wikipedia as did I you know more then you could from playing the game.
 
You could check out a runthrough or speedrun of the game on Youtube like I did to see what the game was like.

Here you go:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J80KD4BG7M

"Use a guide to get through it quickly, it's a great game though, especially for it's time. "

Half-Life was such a great game back in the day. I think you should play through it even if it's just to know you have played a classic. Of course, it is dated, but still, I say play through it. 
As for the story, there's no essential information really, but there are references you'll appreciate more in HL2.

Having played the first one before the any news of Half-Life 2 got to me, getting the HEV suit in Half-Life 2 gave me goosebumps with that Valve logo sound playing.  Man, that was the shit.

"Here you go:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7J80KD4BG7M "

I played HL2 before HL, and then tried to go back. I couldn't play it.

I played it for the first time like 3 years ago and still thought it was an excellant game but it doesnt add much to the story other than the gman if you dont want to play it just read wikipedia :P

I played it a year or two ago, since I never finished it back in the day, but I played and finished 2 before that, and I felt no change. There's no real reason to play the first, unless it's for nostalgic reasons.

I think you should skip it.  There's no reason to force yourself to play something you don't like.  Half Life is one of those games were great for their time.  Games have changed a lot in the last ten years so of course this game will start showing its age.

The game is good, but awfully long and does get frustrating at points. But you should have a go at it. Use a guide or god mode. I only recommend it to experience what made HL so great when it came out. 
Or better yet. Don't bother playing it and wait for the Black Mesa Source mod to come out. It's a complete remake of the original game in the current source engine.

Turn on god mode, get past a tricky bit, then turn it off.

"Turn on god mode, get past a tricky bit, then turn it off. "

I find your lack of appreciation for Half-Life.. disturbing.

"I find your lack of appreciation for Half-Life.. disturbing. "

I played through Half Life 2 and the 2 episodes without ever touching the first game. It's a wonderful experience, and I never found myself confused because I didn't play through the first.

i never played the first HL ... i began with Half-Life 2 and the story gave me an idea of what happened in the first, so i think im fine and so are you !

What reason do you have to not play it?
 
And it's probably the concept of in its time. When it came out, it looked and played phenomenal. In a generation of Halo kids and other such clichéd nonsense, I suppose it's to be expected.

Suck it up and play through it. Then you can say you have, and not be a filthy liar =D

It was funner in the 90's. Back then, we were used to shitty graphics and could recognize pieces to a puzzle easier. Planet Half-Life has a great guide for the original games. Some have pretty pictures too.

Half Life is the best. Do yourself a favor and devour it all.

If you never played hl, going back to it at this point can be tough but know this, when it was released it blew everyones minds.