Icons are one of my favorite parts of fandom. I love looking for them, gushing over them, stalking supporting their artists, having the perfect little picture for a comment.

They can express our fangirly joys,
Our frustrations with life,
Make us laugh like loons,
Awe us with their beauty,

Or just let us bask in the love!

I may love my icon collection even more than my shoe collection. *shocked gasp*
xie_xie_xie summed up our fandom's love for all things iconic so eloquently in this lovely Ode to Icon Makers: Dear Icon Makers

But not understanding terms like hotlinking or how to credit let alone upload them, it took me a long time to start grabbing these little pics of love. Thankfully, people were happy to step up and walk me through it.
( This is what I have learned about icons. )

Icons by youbetterwiseup, brianslave68, url_girl, youbetterwiseup, qafmaniac, zaipixie and maybe742
Technotard assistance from zaipixie, xie_xie_xie, and happier_bunny.