What are the stars for next to peoples usernames

It is a rating that other users have given you for your responses in discussions. If you upet someone, or if they disagree with you, they will rate you negative, which is against the guidelines. They don't realize whent they do that, they are hurting themselves as well, but then maybe they don't really care. The best thing you can do is to avoid the controversial topics as that will surely lower your ratings. You are new here, and you have a chance to bring your ratings up, so I wouldn't worry about them all that much yet. Just do the best you can, and you will see your ratings going up in no time. Mine started at a 3 and now I have a 9, so it is possible. Good luck to you and happy mylotting.