icons

[bulging_loyalty]

So, I was looking around for pictures of Lt. Armstrong, and I found this icon which I felt was most excellent and more fitting to this profile.  The thing is, it turns out it's the icon for an lj someone set up for the character Lt. Armstrong.  I'm not entirely sure about lj etiquette concerning icons.  Is it considered a faux pas to use somebody

Comments

[awayhaha]

The communities made to distribute icons (i.e. where I got my Disney icons) ask that you cite where you got them in the comment for the icon - I guess that's all that's necessary when you get them from a random other user? Maybe you have to ask their permission?

[awayhaha]

Also, the new icon is amazing ^^

[easilydistra]

long answer:
generally, asking is polite. many people will have comments along the lines of DO NOT STEAL!!! in the icon comments section (go to profile, view all userpics) if they don't want people to use their icons (which is usually just for personal ones, which this one isn't so ::shrg::). if they just have a credit for someone else and don't say otherwise, it's (so i understand it) fair game as long as you also credit the maker/artist.
if it doesn't say anything... ask. people are pretty nice about these things.

short answer:
not really, but most makers want credit so it's a good idea to ask.

[otoshigo]

I think everyone else has already made the ask-the-owner point, so I'm just going to say that icon is amazing...