The present state of the internet is a collection of sites, made by big businesses or people with too much time on their hands. These sites have chat rooms, in which people can 'chat'. With today's rubbish Internet connection speeds even the Queen could not afford to use 'video chat'. So instead actions must be typed. The inclusion of asterisks allows the other to understand that it is a typed action.
Yanks use asterisks.
Hereford sixth Form is home to more conspiracies than EGNCity. The 'main-monkey' from the 'The Planet of the Apes' films. The beefy, ever-sleeping, 'nice song, MATE', thicko from Channel 4's Big Brother mess. Similar to 'Blimey'. An easy way to escape dissection when you hurt yourself or are found naked in a wheelie-bin.