code: 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;
  	}
docs: get the current setting for a user
  
  @param $default
  @param int $user_id
  
  @return array