SUGGESTION: Optional /me command

[Grady Vuckovic]

SUGGESTION:
Add to the Settings > FRIENDS tab an option to enable /me commands.

WHERE:
The option could be placed directly below 'Display timestamps in chat logs', an option as follows:
- [_] Display /me commands.

WHAT HAPPENS:
Ticking the check box displays a message box with only an OK and Cancel button that explains briefly what the feature does, and how it can affect messages. The wording would have to be brief but explain accurately what the feature does.

Something along the lines of:

Chat messages beginning with "/me " show no colon (:) between the username and message, and are coloured.

With this feature turned off, "/me " commands would show still but with the "/me " in front of them. With it turned on, the /me command functionality in place currently would work, removing the /me and colon.

PROS:
- There is plenty of space in the FRIENDS tab of the Settings window to add this option. Doing so is minimum work, effectively adding a checkbox and label to an existing UI element, plus a display of a message box on a click event. Then a simple boolean value to determine if an existing feature whose code probably still exists somewhere, should be enabled or disabled.
- It adds back in a feature which has existed in Steam for years and which is used by some users several hundred times a day. Thus keeping Steam a great place for roleplayers to come and enjoy gaming and roleplaying with friends.
- The is feature off by default, users unaware of what the /me command is, or how it works, will never have to worry about it. Those who turn it on experimentally without knowing what the feature is, will receive a message explaining to them what the feature does, and a chance to change their mind. Those who know what the feature is and go looking for it, will find it easily and be able to quickly enable it without a fuss, and be on their merry way.
- Scammers wouldn't know who they could trick with '/me' style messages, because the feature would be off by default. The majority of users who have /me enabled, would know how it works. This would make using the '/me' command to scam others a very risky move, and would in most cases reveal the scammers intentions immediately, and make it easy to catch and report them. Thus discouraging anyone from using the /me command to scam others.

CONS:
- Personally I can't think of any, but I'm sure there will be at least 1 or 2 people will be able to suggest some below.

NOTE:
I've gotten quite a few responses saying 'Just keep the /me as it is!', and while I agree, I would love the '/me' to remain exactly as it is, sadly Valve obviously isn't interested in that option because they have removed it from the beta. So this is my proposal for a compromise, where we can keep the /me, while addressing Valve's/other's concerns.

UPDATE:
Well, finally someone from Valve has commented on this suggestion:
"The additional work of writing an opt-in chat filtering system just to support this one IRC-style command will probably never happen. Sorry."
Well bugger, why? Surely it can't be considered too much work?

[Aragil]

Agreed fully.

[guro]

This is a very good compromise, and I would be able to embrace this feature if it happens to be implemented.

[Grady Vuckovic]

It's either this, or a giant uproar of angry roleplayers as soon as the beta hits release.

[Isla]

Having to manually enable such a basic feature as /me would be annoying, but I suppose this is better than removing it outright.

[Grady Vuckovic]

Originally posted by Reizei Mako:

Having to manually enable such a basic feature as /me would be annoying, but I suppose this is better than removing it outright.

Agreed, but you'd only have to enable it once. It's like timestamps in chat logs, I personally never use Steam without them, but I only have to enable it once in the settings and then it's there usually until my computer needs a complete reformatting or upgrading.

[Angriel]

Completely agreeing with this =w=

[picture of a tree]

Please do this Valve. This idea is the best for both worlds. People who still get scammed despite this are beyond saving.

[Shao]

Agreed, fully, if you really can't bare having /me as a basic function, have it optional, makes more sence than removing it, especially considering the fact that i don't really know any other client that would lack /me command. *thumbs up*

[Saur Darastrix]

Agreed with this. removing /me entirely based on scammers? this is stupid..theres so many other things that they could do to /me command if its causing so many issues..remove the extra colouring if thats causing the issue..add extra icons to actual valve admins to make them stand out in a way that cant be copied..but if it really has to come to this..this sugestion is probably the best midway compromise..those who have no idea will never see /me again..and those who wish to use it..and know what it does..fantasic. heres an option to enable it.. >..>

[Grady Vuckovic]

Made an addition to the 'Pro' list.

Probably the best way to avoid scams caused by this would be for Valve and Steam to not post any messages of importance in the chat windows to begin with, so users don't expect chat messages to be valid messages from Steam. That just opens the door and encourages the chat system to be abused by scammers.

But I'm guessing Valve won't do that, so this suggestion is my compromise.

[Teal]

Agreed absolutely.

And when you are at that, you could throw in some more stuff - like maybe adding italics and bold text and such, and call it "Advanced Chat Features".

Would make me one happy camper.

[Chamango]

I agree, the lack of the /me command is SUPER LAME.

[Saur Darastrix]

Originally posted by Teal:

Agreed absolutely.

And when you are at that, you could throw in some more stuff - like maybe adding italics and bold text and such, and call it "Advanced Chat Features".

Would make me one happy camper.

This would be intresting. and more useful..since afaik /me is the only command steam had for its chat system. so hell..it has text formatting pritty much everywhere else...so..why not finish the set up with the chat system too? and dont dare say cause spammers could use that too..cause if thats the case valve. whats all this formmating doing on your forums ;D

[Jesp]

A "Pros" list and no "Cons" list? Lel.

But this could work. I am quite sure that "/me is a Steam Admin" scams constitute a rather small percentage of the scams that actually happen. As it quite simply does take quite the naive person to fall for that kind of thing. There is no denying that scammers are rather creative people at times and they will find some method to replace the "/me is a Steam Admin" scam anyway.

[Grady Vuckovic]

Originally posted by Jesp:

A "Pros" list and no "Cons" list? Lel.

But this could work. I am quite sure that "/me is a Steam Admin" scams constitute a rather small percentage of the scams that actually happen. As it quite simply does take quite the naive person to fall for that kind of thing. There is no denying that scammers are rather creative people at times and they will find some method to replace the "/me is a Steam Admin" scam anyway.

Well I left it open for others to try and find cons against this. As far as I could see though, it is a simple, easy, quick solution that works for all parties.

And you're right, people will find ways to scam other than this, but at least this feature would let us keep our beloved /me command while making it useless for scammers. Again, I think Valve shouldn't have Steam posting any messages of importance in the chat windows at all, it's what makes things like the '/me' scam possible.