Shoutbox

I have the same issue, that the /me command will work on quick texts involving the (!N) command, but quick texts without (!N) do not work.
For example, a quick text reading "/me throws a tomato at (!N)" will successfully output as "magistr8 throws a tomato at <friend name>" in the window.  However, a quick text reading "/me throws his computer out the window" will come out as "/me throws his computer out the window" instead of "magistr8 throws his computer out the window" as expected.
I browsed the forums for an answer to this problem but did not find one.  What I find curious though is that the friend who showed me Messenger Plus! does not have this problem with quick text.