Icons - what do they all mean?

[yogeebare]

Hi, I am new to your forum, and I dont want to start my experience by offending anyone with the icons I choose to attach to my contributions :-(
Some are obvious (faces that denote the mood I am currently in I assume) but the thumbs, stop, 18, O/T, clown, heart and what looks like a script? are baffling me, as are the green face, goofy teeth and clown.
I dont want to send the wrong message about my sexuality, stance on politics, religious beliefs ect :-) by using one in the wrong way, so do these have a recognised meaning with fellow users?
(For the record I am straight, dont trust any particular party, and believe there has to be more to life - but dont judge me :-()

[Shaw Tarse]

Generally the smilies are self explanatory. I guess you've looked at the smilie list?
Once you've mastered that you can move on to the emoticons that JonRB kindly allows PHers to use

[CoolHands]

[Eighteeteewhy]

My favourite

[Classic Grad 98]

there is no etiquette or secret meanings, they're just there to portray emotion (hence 'Emoticons')

[yogeebare]

Hi thanks for your use of emotions and response. So I now understand I will be free to express myself without risk of ridicule but what is the reason for them appearing next to the posts in the forum list page

[CoolHands]

Shaw Tarse said:

Generally the smilies are self explanatory.

Apparently not to this clown