Pinging default @off on replies/make it configurable

Someone mentioned this months ago and STILL nothing has happened with it.

Do you know how many train wrecks I have had to witness of users telling newbies how this mechanic works and to /please/ not ping unless it's important, only for them to ping again and again afterward because the default isn't @/off on replies?

Moderators and busy people alike are tired of getting these alerts. Making the default off or allowing each user/server to configure it as they wish would save some of us some major grief.