I'm not a native speaker but I think that the above sentence might sound a bit too direct. I assume you're talking about a photography forum where, like here, members are volunteers and don't like to be told what to discuss. Perhaps, if you removed the "Now, instead of discussing the title" bit, it would sound more polite.

Having said that, it would be helpful to see your sentence in the context.

It is all here: http://photo.stackexchange.com/quest...-what-happened

It is in comments of the second answer. You have to click "add/show comments" to see "all" talks.

Without contet it's difficult to say but, generally, "could you please" is used when you want somebody to do something straight away or to stress that you really want them to do it like "Could you please stop making that noise!". If you want to ask nicely you should probably use "please could you".
Edit: I agree with sycamorex that starting a sentance with "Now" is a little dirrect. Perhaps "Please could we discuss composition now, instead of the title?", or similar, would be more passive.

Is this a bit off subject. Or am I misunderstanding?

You are inclined to abruptness (which I like for I know any discussion with you is going to be lively and interesting.) This abruptness can come accross as bossiness)

There is a possibility that we shall be going to India (close to New Delhi) for a few months

Take care Anisha - from Des

Please then correct that statement to make it look non-abrupt. Or you think what others have suggested is perfect?

You wrote :
[QUOTE]Now, instead of discussing the title, could you please help me in the composition? [/QUOTE

]I'm not too good at this but for what it is worth - how about:

"I would really like to hear your thoughts and advice on the composition"

The rest of the sentence is IMHO probably not not needed - uhm! I think

That's quite nice, and somewhat "too" polite. But, it does make sense to lower the tone down as much as we can when we are "asking" for help! Thanks.

I checked out the link in your signature. There are some very good photos there - but I don't know how to tell which ones are yours.

If the 3 that first show are yours, then I think you have a talent: I suppose different people may see different messages, for example I particularly like the candles - because it reminds me of how finite we are: which in turn helps to face up to reality

Anyway tell me which photos are yours and I'll put my two pence worth in

That's a cultural thing. In India people are generally helpful to each other. In England and English-derived cultures less so. So in India there is no need to dress up a request for help -- you just directly ask for what you want. In English-derived cultures, help is a "favour" so you are more likely to get help if you ask in a way that acknowledges that. I think that is the root of how the behavioural conventions were established. A typical Indian request for help would be regarded as very disrespectful and rude in an English-derived culture. And, vice versa, a normal request for help in a English-derived culture sounds distastefully obsequious to Indian ears.

Perhaps one should write requests in a "too polite" tone - then seek to "abruptise" them a little. Rather than the other way around.

I think that your comment Catkin that it is largely a cultural thing has much merit. Although that will not prevent us from endeavouring to make sure we are polite where possible

For past few months I have been active on the 1x (writing critiques). I don't prefer to
beat around the bushes and sugar coat statements to make them look soft, and for this I
received an infraction. Mods there said that I was being harsh and rude.
A German Mod there living in India (Tata steel (Jamshedpur)) told me that he didn't
find my critiques too harsh/rude, and I was pleased to hear that till I heard his reasons.
He said that in (Tata steel (Jamshedpur)) all the people are quite rude, and therefore
he's used to rudeness now!!

Well, if he had found some people rude I would have understood it, but if he's finding all
the people rude then perhaps the problem lies somewhere else!

Being polite is of course nice and compulsory too, but I don't think there is any
need to be "too" polite. The statement which you suggested in the previous post sounds
as if one is "desperate" to get help. I don't want to sound "desperate".
In that particular case, I think I shouldn't have demanded another answer from him.
He would have answered anyway if he wanted to. After all it is a volunteer forum.
BTW, thanks for the appreciation of the photos (I have only 3 of them, there).

Is there any particular situation where attaching the in front of a noun makes sense?

Many, for example "That is the girl I will marry"

girl is a noun?? Oh, I was talking about "proper" noun.
Anisha is a noun, ah well I was talking about names like "Anisha".

Example : "Been on the 1x?"