FAQ #6: What are the progress bar things above my avatar?

[Star Way]

This small graphic is actually your forum rank. It increases as you post more.

There are a few other permanent ranks, too, such as "Banned/Account Temp. Suspended," "Senior Member," "Moderator/Admin," and etc. With the exception of being banned or having your username suspended, there is nothing you can do to achieve a permenant rank if you haven't got one already.