public function get_user_settings( $default = array(), $user_id = NULL ) {

		if ( ! $user_id )
			return $default;

		$default_opt_in = apply_filters( 'iac_default_opt_in', FALSE );
		$default = $default_opt_in
			? '1'
			: '0';

		$settings = array(
			'inform_about_posts'    => get_user_meta( $user_id, 'post_subscription', TRUE ),
			'inform_about_comments' => get_user_meta( $user_id, 'comment_subscription', TRUE )
		);
		foreach( $settings as $k => $v ) {
			if ( '' === $v )
				$settings[ $k ] = $default;
		}

		return $settings;
	}