Kpryor,

In your User CP at the top left, under Edit Options, the first box you can check is for "invisible mode". That means that when you're online, others can't "see" that you're here at the bottom of the page.

So when you're online, YOU will see an asterick (*) beside your name but that just means you're invisible. Others can't see you (or the asterick). If you're visible, you will see a round green circle somewhere around your name or in the posts you're making. That means you're visible. It turns red if you're invisible.