I'm assuming from the questions that it's referring to IP logging as done on LJ or IJ by that software. Or do you also mean any kind of stat tracking such as hit counters, which also often do so by IP?

Just the IP logging on comments by a regular journal user; some people on my friends list log IPs and some don't. It's an arbitrary setting:
http://www.insanejournal.com/manage/comments/

Hit counters and such are not a part of the poll.

When I first started my LJ I did not log IP addresses - I didn't see a real need for it, and it seemed mildly intrusive.

THEN, one of my RL friends killed himself - and one of the things he did that night was leave a comment in my journal. During their investigation over the next few days, the police told me that they wished I'd been logging IPs - it would have allowed them to verify that he'd been at his personal PC when he left the comment, and would have helped them build a chain of events.

Anyway, now I log IPs. It's not because I'm paranoid, afraid of being stalked, or intend to hunt down sockpuppets (though those can certainly be valid reasons, and if I'm ever in that situation (as some of my online friends have been), I'll probably be glad I have the IPs). I almost never pay any attention to the IPs of my commenters. It's just good internet practice to keep that log - you never know when you're going to need it, and when you do, you really need it.

(here via meta_roundup, by the way)

meta_roundup rocks :)

My condolences on the untimely demise of your friend. Someone I knew (not very close) did that on his 30-th birthday. Left a small child behind and a hand written note. To be honest, if we were close friends and he left a comment in my journal, I'd be devastated. My heart is going to you and your friends.

So, yes, there may be life events where logged IPs will become useful and aid in police investigation.

It was several years ago, but the condolences are appreciated anyway - it was certainly devastating. :)

It honestly never occurred to me that people might be alienated by my logging IPs; I just want to make sure people who stumble on your poll realize that there are reasons logging IPs is good practice, that have nothing particularly to do with fannish etiquette.

I suppose that people from small towns and people who prefer not to list their location could be put off a bit :) People from huge metro areas would be less sensitive to IP logging.

Here via meta_roundup.

As a former investigative reporter, I'm strongly against organizations and people collecting information they don't need that could compromise other people's security.

However, as a former investigative reporter, I've been the target of harassment. :) So I can sympathize with anyone who turns on IP address logging if it's the only measure they can take to prevent harassing posts.

I've never turned on IP address logging, and my posts (both here and at LiveJournal) are open to anonymous posters. I've had a couple of spam posts that I dealt with through deletions; otherwise, I've had no problems - and I have half a dozen communities at LiveJournal with keywords that could attract spammers and random harassers. So, unless somebody has a real problem on their hands, I'd encourage folks not to log IP addresses, because having their IP addresses logged is a genuine security problem for some folks - say, somebody who uses a work computer to post their slashy stuff from. (In some workplaces, IP addresses identify specific computer terminals.) Those folks can be naturally reluctant to release that information to some stranger whose blog they want to post at.

I share your opinion on needless information collections. Internet is a Wonky Wild West right now.

I log IPs of anonymous users to discourage anonymous postings. However, looking at the polls results so far shows that a large number of people don't blink an eye when their IP is being logged. Or won't even notice it happening. Therefore my method is proven ineffective :) Should just disable anonymous comments and remove IP logging.

Dusk, do you live comments in journals what log your IP? I avoid doing that but have made a few exeptions in the past.

I do; my hometown is publicly known, and my exact location can't be pinpointed from my IP address. I just feel a slight bit of irritation whenever I have to, because I know that most of the folks who demand an IP address wouldn't know what to do with an IP address once they'd collected it, so it doesn't really serve any purpose in assisting them.