From the fanthropology community, a survey about how and why people do - or don't - use icons. The surveyer asked that we pimp for her since she's looking for the widest possible audience and I'm obliging. :)

Here's the text:

I'm working on my doctoral dissertation in Library and Information Science. I am specializing in Social Informatics, which explores both technological effects on social behavior and also social shaping of technology. In my dissertation I plan to fanfic writing communities on LJ with an eye to how the technology affects the type of interactions people have and also what uses people put the technology to (some of which were not intended).

To me one of the most interesting uses of technology I’ve seen in LJ fandom is the use of icons. However knowing exactly what people are getting out of icons or intending with their use is something I’d like to know more about. If you’d be willing to tell me, please take the survey. All responses and comments to the post will remain anonymous.

I would like to get a number of people who both DO and DON’T use icons answering the survey. I would appreciate any help in pimping this, so no matter what someone’s own icon use is like their opinions will be very useful. Thanks!

It didn't take me very long to fill out -- and there's much to be said for supporting Librarians of the Future.