$active simply means the main window you are chatting in, where you pay attention to.
This should respond to active and private:
on *:TEXT:$($+(*,$me,*)):*:response $1-
on *:ACTION:$($+(*,$me,*)):*:response $1-
on *:NOTICE:$($+(*,$me,*)):*:response $1-
alias -l response {
if ($comchan($nick,1) != $active) {
msg $iif($chan,$v1,$me) $nick is calling out to you!
}
}