Silly chat related question

[Vallikat]

Ok, I've been chatting online for years, but for some reason, I've never gotten around to asking this.

What is the difference between using *this* :this: and ::this:: to convey action/emotion? I always use asterisks out of habit. But I really don't know if that's right or not. Anyone?

[Negs]

never really seen the :this: or ::this::

but the * usually is there to indicate an action

*cough*

*laughs*

*smacks j00 in t3h arse*

etc.

[Jactin]

:this: and ::this:: came from AOL role playing chats mostly. *this* one came mostly from everyone else

[Innari]

I used ::this:: when I first started chatting back at FortuneCity.