I have no idea....I've always thought it was the most ridiculous thing and in 6 years I don't think I've ever used it.

I think its meant to represent a 'bang' as in a shock.  It can also be used as an innuendo such as 'a man's sausage exploding'

And there it is people, I've just brought the tone of this forum to an all new low 

It can mean what you want it to mean. And it originated on the Ch4 forum.

In fact, you can even tell an erotic story with the smileys:

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , 

Rawky

Oh, no: it's been a lot lower than that.

I still remember the "blue waffle" thread - despite trying very, very hard to forget...

*is intrigued* 

Don't go there.

Seriously: don't...

Rawky, stand in front of a mirror and say, "Blue Waffle, Blue Waffle, Blue Waffle". 

I found the old thread, but there was no links

LOL Rawky - the avatar smiley story is class !!!

In fact, you can even tell an erotic story with the smileys:

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Or alternatively;

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

...not that I've any personal experience of the matter. Oh no...

Going back to the OP: I would have expected the first question newcomers would ask would be:

"Why are there two ninjas?"

Or....

, , , 

Are there? I never noticed . Why are there two ninjas then??

*waits with Sweet*

Eugine, I have tried really hard to forget the blue waffle thread too

Aw, Saz

I was worried that even just mentioning it would cause flashbacks...

It did

It's because a sausage is a banger- that's all  i can contribute.

  Very good, Rawky.  But what about the smiley?

Does is depend on the quality of the ...?  

Or does it come after the STD test smiley? 

As far as I remember it was a bit 'tongue-in-cheek'

I.E. That's a right old banger. Banger as in old car and Banger as in slang for a link sausage.

I know why, but it's not a very exciting story. So I won't bore you all with it unless you really, really want to hear it. But I warn you, You'll be disappointed!

As for it being the first question, I'm not so sure.

It would appear that it is not too clear where the smileys are, in the first place, so querying why there are two the same, I think, would be farther down the list of questions.

I refer you to my post above - and await further instructions.

Tell me the story Fluffers ... please

Well, as I say, it's not really very exciting.....

Ch4 had all these smileys, but at that time there was just the one ninja.

When Ch4 threw us out and we got rescued by our present hosts they asked if we wanted anything done/rescued/transferred from the ruins of the Ch4 forums and one of the things requested were the smileys.

However, not only did they rescue the smileys, but they gave us some new ones as well.

One of which was named 'GLANCE'

Now at first glance (hahaha) Glance and Ninja looked the same, but in actual fact they differed in the way the eyes moved. However in subsequent moves a little mistake crept in and now both Ninja and Glance have been transferred with the same underlying code, so now both have the same eye movement.

Don't know why it hasn't been rectified though.

For Rexi in case she hasn't seen it yet!

Well, BECAUSE! Now it's part of our history, and we can tell our grandchildren at our knee!

Right?

Cheers Fluffs - I had missed your reply

You are right though ... t'wern't very exciting!!

I have no  today. 

oh I'd forgotten all about Lance the ninja when we first moved over here (I read it as Lance instead of glance the first time, and decided to name him Lance )