Similar to how we have an ignore list when it comes to ignoring certain users. I'm wondering if the system for blocking PMs could be modified a bit? I'm thinking of a way to block PMs, but only from certain users. Blocking PMs is an overall useful feature, but sometimes it can be inconvenient. It sounds a bit complicated, but I'll break it down. It could help prevent users from getting PM spammed by multiple accounts, getting harassed by people who are on multiple accounts, room staff members (who aren't global) can communicate more efficiently without having to worry about if another member is blocking PMs, if you wanted to only talk to a certain friend and because room staff members probably shouldn't /ignore users. It could work similarly to adding and deleting highlights.
An example of allowing. All exceptions would be: !, ac, +, staff, room(room name), and (username).
- Typing "/blockpms allow, staff" would only allow room staff members to PM you (either room staff of a room you're currently in or all room staff on the server).
- Typing "/blockpms allow, ac" would only allow autoconfirmed users to PM you.
- Typing "/blockpms allow, +" would only allow voiced and up users to PM you (this includes global and room voices).
- Typing "/blockpms allow, (username)" would only allow a certain user to PM you.
- Typing"/blockpms allow, !" would only allow anyone who isn't muted to PM you.
As an extension to those, maybe these parameters could also be specific to a certain room that you're currently in. Typing "/blockpms allow, room(room name)" would make it room specific, so any user in that room could PM you depending on your settings.
An example of removing exceptions.
- Typing "/blockpms disallow, staff" would take off the room staff exception.
- Typing "/blockpms disallow, +" would take off the voice exception.
- Typing "/blockpms disallow, all" would take off all exceptions.
- Typing "/blockpms disallow, room(room name), room(room name)" would take off the exception for needing to be in certain rooms and the settings will apply to the entire server instead.
This is similar to modchat in a way, but this only pertains to PMs. You could also add multiple exceptions by adding commas - "/blockpms allow, !, +, ac, staff, AlphaGent, jolteon-xvii". This will block PMs from everyone except people who you've specified (global staff members by default can still PM you regardless of these settings). You'd be able to look at your exception list by typing "/blockpms allowed". I would imagine the most common setup would be "/blockpms allow, !, ac" for eliminating bad PMs as much as possible barring users who troll/harass in PMs before getting muted or locked. Of course no one has to use these settings.
One big drawback is the fact that the /blockpms command doesn't save if you refresh or logout, so you'd have to input exceptions all over again. Or they could save like highlights do; that'd allow the settings to be in place even if you didn't block PMs, so you can avoid doing it later after blocking PMs. All of this could just be one big complexity, but I'd like to hear other thoughts and opinions. My ultimate goal for all of this is to make the /blockpms command on PS a little less hindering and a little more convenient for users and room staff who value and care for optimal communication with other users and room staff.