Requests etiquette

Hello all,
This is a weird post in that it's not a request, but more an observation and a suggestion (to which I welcome improvements and constructive feedback/opinons and suggestions).

When I first came to this forum the first forum I found was The Newsroom, though my first posts were in this very forum - I was a beggar/nagger (delete as appropriate) and began to grate on other users, and looking back I can see just how annoying it was, I was demanding and almost expectant, and other people take this personally or get annoyed by it and other people might see it as a blight on the forum. Now I'm not laying rules down, or even suggesting for one moment that you listen to my advice (and I'll stress that here and now, this is purely advisory, take it or leave it)

So my points and thoughts:

It's not nice to just join and request, request, request - it's far nicer to request after some posts of worth, otherwise it just seems like you're asking and begging.

Don't post the same request, or another duplicate request to somebody else, if it's been requested register your interest in the same thread, don't be afraid to dig a topic from page 2, nobody will have an issue with it

One I used to do, and probably still do (though those I've spoken to in PM know why) is reveal they have something in a request thread and then not post it, now if I say I have something, drop me a PM and I sort something out - others ([MMTV - A troll who is banned from TVForum]..) like to announce they have something and never come up with the goods just to wind up other members, two things - requesters don't rise to it, and those who do it - don't bother, we just think you're a moron for doing it.

Try not to word requests in a demanding way, there's no need to command people into giving you stuff, it just makes them resist more. Add some charm and don't, rather coldly add "Thanks in advance" to the end of your initial post! Thank them once they've obliged with the request!


These are just some points I've noted over the years and wanted to post them and gather thoughts/suggestions and maybe make other members more forthcoming in future!

Doing this makes you come across as cold? In what way?

Well not all cases, but some (possibly most) it's like saying "I expect you to pour onto me" OR some people just leave it there, won't thank an individual after posting something (if anything's posted at all!)

Give me a reason why I should take notice of you!!

Thanks in advance






Good post, Mike. Would be helpful for it to be stickyed. You make some good points about etiquette (although this is probably something which should be taught by parents...! *grumpy - kids these days*).

On another note, I do say thanks in advance. I don't see any issue with that.

I see no problem with putting "thanks in advance" - if no-one answers my request, I simply move on...

I'd like to see something put in place so that you have to have a certain amount of posts to make a request, something like 50 posts. I've noticed lately that it's mostly new members requesting stuff...

Yeah, I do see what you mean - I guess the poster determines how I read a request, if a longstanding or friendly user requests something thanks in advance suffices, but some people use it and it just screams as though it's part of a give give give post.

I agree with Mike, in the sense that with some members 'Thanks in advance' is just the user expecting you to throw them what they want their way, for example:

I will be honest. I am a user who poaches around on the forums for requests, and to admire other peoples work. *Seriously, you guys create some smashing work *

It is very hard not to ask, and considering that the threaded media is mostly foreign content, and has a different audience to Australia, its hard to keep up with what's going on.

Etiquette I believe is very important, but it can also be misread. Some people intend to showing a friendly attitude, but the choice of words won't always be the best, *and I should know, I have the same problem verbally*

I'm not saying treat every post as a "goody-twoshoes" post, but just spend a bit of time re-wording/reading between the lines.

NOTE: I don't mean to repeat Mike W, just expressing my opinion to the matter

I'm not a fan of those members who say, "yes I can help but only for a trade".

Its nice to gain something back in return, of course, but "only for a trade"? What kind of a$$hole doesn't help someone out when they can - especially when (A) they don't have any creative or production ownership on the material, and (B) in the time it took them to post their 'conditions of barter', they could have simply uploaded the MP3 off their hard drive.

Anyone who replies in such a way just comes across as a jerk - and on forums where you hope to hang around for months or even years that's not a good thing.

I think members should be able to 'trade only' if they so wish, especially with rare tracks. That way they are still providing the file to the requester, receiving something in return but also keeping tigher control on what gets leaked. I know a lot of private trading goes on with files that are never spoken about. Maybe it's kinder to PM the requester to organise a trade instead of posting those sort of comments in public to annoy others

That is spot on what its all about, this goes way beyond themes. There alot of trades in many different fields including Bootleg copies of concerts, comedy works, etc.

Were not taking about single tracks here, were on about complete packages, anyone trading for single opening and closing, there something a bit wrong.......

Many people use trades to increase there collections, also if someone trades with someone then said peason start letting said piece go all over the place there can get blackballed, but of course the damaged is done........ TV compaines get wind of this and then prs etc start clamping down making it harder to aquireing new or other pieces, just like what going on the now with ITV breakfast.

But alot of new comers have no idea how to do this and balls it up and cause even more problems for everyone else.

To this moment in time i never had to trade since I never found anyone with anything I would enjoy.

It's not the sharing on this site that's the issue, it's the taking of materials from this site and putting them on YouTube that makes the companies clamp down.

These prepubescent morons who do it need to learn that they're ruining it for everybody by making a 'mock' or some such to say 'LOOK AT ME I HAVE THE MUSIC!?!?!?!!?!111oneonetwo'

There was a time on this site where everybody was quite forthcoming with stuff, then around 2009/10 this strange showing off culture began, leading to people embargoing their music.

And to be honest with you, trading a good way of security, if somebody has a rare package they're unlikely to leak a rare package knowing you have their rare pieces - I have some master recordings of some nice packages, which if somebody wants they can ask for them - but I'd like some security before I sent them out!

Though trading for bits and bobs shouldn't happen!