What are these stars on the forums PM system?

[Nightmare-Duckie]

I've only just noticed them in the PM place thing and can't find them anywhere else on the forum.
Judging by their names, "star.gif" for the yellow star (), and "stargmod.gif" for the purple star (); I can only deduct that it has something to do with forum "class", Ephialtes being moderator and Caution being a member.
I also don't understand the "g" in "stargmod.gif" because as far as I know Ephialtes is not specially linked with Garry's Mod (star-gmod? Idunno)
Quantity doesn't appear to have a meaning either because everyone else in my PM list only have one yellow star.
Basically, what are stars?

[Ad Bot]

[Port]

I also don't understand the "g" in "stargmod.gif" because as far as I know Ephialtes is not specially linked with Garry's Mod (star-gmod? Idunno)

star global moderator

[e-maxx]

Global Moderator

[Port]

Global Moderator

sss

[Night Fox]

I think it's probably what's left over from a rep system that badspot disabled (as well as he could anyway)
and moderators just automatically have all stars

[Nightmare-Duckie]

Ah. Well then. That was quickly explained.

[e-maxx]

inb4tehlock

[Dominator]

[Wynd_Fox]

Ephi's never PMed me. :(

[fred da kiko]

Badspot has differently colored stars. Also, why are these .gifs?

[Darkness ZXW]

badspot's stars are

and .gifs are sometimes single image frames

[Night Fox]

Badspot has differently colored stars.

because he's an admin, not a mod

[Nightmare-Duckie]

inb4tehlock

I don't lock topics, just in case someone comes in with something really important that nobody else knew.
An example for this thread would be something like the stars are secret codes for nuclear arms.  

Edit: Look, a perfect example

badspot's stars are

and .gifs are sometimes single image frames

I never knew that Badspot had those stars because he's never PM'd me.

[SeventhSandwich]

can I buy a star?

[Night Fox]

can I buy a star?

I wonder how much money it would take for badspot to give someone admin (not mod) on the forum