[bmn__]

> There's no way to approximate this experience in IRC.

Yes, there is.

   <bmn__> !tell smichel17 crowdmatch me, see HN frontpage
   <reminder`bot> 1 message stored. will deliver when smichel17 rejoins or unaways.
   ⋮
   * smichel17 is no longer marked as being away, gone 04:30:55
   <reminder`bot> smichel17, bmn__ wants you to know: "crowdmatch me, see HN frontpage" (2021-12-28 13:12)

[smichel17]

I've done that, too. It misses the context bit. As I said in the post you replied to,

> In other words, I want "@smichel17 ^" to be a thing.