diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ccb95d8..ddb1a75 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -133,6 +133,8 @@ The following settings determine how the bot responds. By default, the bot will
 respond_by_dm_only = True
 defaultChannel = 0
 ignoreDefaultChannel = False # ignoreDefaultChannel, the bot will ignore the default channel set above
+ignoreChannels = # ignoreChannels is a comma separated list of channels to ignore, e.g. 4,5
+cmdBang = False # require ! to be the first character in a command
 ```
 
 ### Location Settings
diff --git a/config.template b/config.template
index ec7e191..82ae222 100644
--- a/config.template
+++ b/config.template
@@ -32,6 +32,10 @@ autoPingInChannel = False
 defaultChannel = 0
 # ignoreDefaultChannel, the bot will ignore the default channel set above
 ignoreDefaultChannel = False
+# ignoreChannels is a comma separated list of channels to ignore, e.g. 4,5
+ignoreChannels = 
+# require ! to be the first character in a command
+cmdBang = False
 
 # motd is reset to this value on boot
 motd = Thanks for using MeshBOT! Have a good day!
diff --git a/mesh_bot.py b/mesh_bot.py
index 859ce76..41fac57 100755
--- a/mesh_bot.py
+++ b/mesh_bot.py
@@ -115,6 +115,10 @@ def auto_response(message, snr, rssi, hop, pkiStatus, message_from_id, channel_n
     # check the message for commands words list, processed after system.messageTrap
     for key in command_handler:
         word = message_lower.split(' ')
+        if cmdBang:
+            # strip the !
+            if word[0].startswith("!"):
+                word[0] = word[0][1:]
         if key in word:
             # append all the commands found in the message to the cmds list
             cmds.append({'cmd': key, 'index': message_lower.index(key)})
@@ -1265,13 +1269,17 @@ def onReceive(packet, interface):
             else:
                 # message is on a channel
                 if messageTrap(message_string):
-                    # message is for us to respond to
+                    # message is for us to respond to, or is it...
                     if ignoreDefaultChannel and channel_number == publicChannel:
                         logger.debug(f"System: Ignoring CMD:{message_string} From: {get_name_from_number(message_from_id, 'short', rxNode)} Default Channel:{channel_number}")
                     elif str(message_from_id) in bbs_ban_list:
                         logger.debug(f"System: Ignoring CMD:{message_string} From: {get_name_from_number(message_from_id, 'short', rxNode)} Cantankerous Node")
+                    elif str(channel_number) in ignoreChannels:
+                        logger.debug(f"System: Ignoring CMD:{message_string} From: {get_name_from_number(message_from_id, 'short', rxNode)} Ignored Channel:{channel_number}")
+                    elif cmdBang and not message_string.startswith("!"):
+                        logger.debug(f"System: Ignoring CMD:{message_string} From: {get_name_from_number(message_from_id, 'short', rxNode)} Didnt sound like they meant it")
                     else:
-                        # message is for bot to respond to
+                        # message is for bot to respond to, seriously this time..
                         logger.info(f"Device:{rxNode} Channel:{channel_number} " + CustomFormatter.green + "ReceivedChannel: " + CustomFormatter.white + f"{message_string} " + CustomFormatter.purple +\
                                     "From: " + CustomFormatter.white + f"{get_name_from_number(message_from_id, 'long', rxNode)}")
                         if useDMForResponse:
@@ -1414,6 +1422,8 @@ async def start_rx():
         logger.debug(f"System: QRZ Welcome/Hello Enabled")
     if checklist_enabled:
         logger.debug(f"System: CheckList Module Enabled")
+    if ignoreChannels != []:
+        logger.debug(f"System: Ignoring Channels: {ignoreChannels}")
     if enableSMTP:
         if enableImap:
             logger.debug(f"System: SMTP Email Alerting Enabled using IMAP")
diff --git a/modules/settings.py b/modules/settings.py
index 6771c69..d701934 100644
--- a/modules/settings.py
+++ b/modules/settings.py
@@ -196,7 +196,9 @@ try:
     # general
     useDMForResponse = config['general'].getboolean('respond_by_dm_only', True)
     publicChannel = config['general'].getint('defaultChannel', 0) # the meshtastic public channel
+    ignoreChannels = config['general'].get('ignoreChannels', '').split(',') # ignore these channels
     ignoreDefaultChannel = config['general'].getboolean('ignoreDefaultChannel', False)
+    cmdBang = config['general'].getboolean('cmdBang', False) # default off
     zuluTime = config['general'].getboolean('zuluTime', False) # aka 24 hour time
     log_messages_to_file = config['general'].getboolean('LogMessagesToFile', False) # default off
     log_backup_count = config['general'].getint('LogBackupCount', 32) # default 32 days
diff --git a/modules/system.py b/modules/system.py
index 8d3a96b..7b3b50e 100644
--- a/modules/system.py
+++ b/modules/system.py
@@ -659,6 +659,8 @@ def messageTrap(msg):
             # if word in message is in the trap list, return True
             if t.lower() == m.lower():
                 return True
+            if cmdBang and m.startswith("!"):
+                return True
     # if no trap words found, run a search for near misses like ping? or cmd?
     for m in message_list:
         for t in range(len(trap_list)):