said by nwrickert:I don't see the point of this.
You want to keep this behavior so you can test out your IM checker app or script? That's a valid reason.
If the IMs from replying to yourself are onerous, then you are replying to yourself far too often.
You must be unaware of the many discussions in which, if one is the thread starter, and one wants to add a general reply not directed to any particular person, one replies to the thread. Being the thread starter, that means one is replying to oneself, generating a "your post has a reply" IM.