Following up on the discussion [here](http://meta.serverfault.com/questions/6701/), I’d like to propose some changes to our help center guidelines to remove subjective language (particularly the “professional” part) and simplify things a bit, while still maintaining a high standard of quality and a clear line of what kind of questions belong here.

Quoting, briefly, for context:

> Removing the requirement to be a professional means telling these users “your question isn’t appropriate as it stands, improve it by...” instead of telling them “you don’t belong here because you aren’t what I consider to be a professional sysadmin.”

So, here’s what I was able to come up with, with some details on my thought process to follow:

> Server Fault is a site for questions and answers about **managing
> information technology systems**.
> 
> If your question is about:
> 
>  - managing the hardware or software of servers, workstations, storage or networks
>  - tools used for administering, monitoring, or automating these
>  - working with services hosting or enabling your information technology
> 
> and is not about:
> 
>  - consumer workstations or networking (which belong on our sister site, [Super User](http://superuser.com/))
>  - product, service, or learning material recommendations
>  - product licensing inquiries
>  - career, salary, personnel, employment, or formal education
>  - unauthorized use or misuse of IT systems
> 
> then you’re in the right place to ask your question!

(then leaving the rest of what’s there alone)

Reasoning behind the specifics..

> Server Fault is a site for questions and answers about **managing information technology systems**.

I think this wording is broad enough to cover the whole scope in a nutshell while still implying strongly that this isn’t for your home linksys setup. I’m not too attached to it if others have better recommendations, though.

>  - managing the hardware or software of servers, workstations, storage, and networks, or
>  - tools used for administering, monitoring, or automating these, or

Basically the old “If your question is about” criteria, but condensed.

>  - working with services hosting or enabling your information technology

I want this one to have inclusion of blank-as-a-service types questions, but it could probably stand to be rephrased, because we still don’t want the user end of the cpanel equation.

>  - consumer workstations and networking (which belongs on our sister site, [Super User](http://superuser.com/)), or

This is rephrased a bit, but basically the same as before, and with a more immediate “if this is you, go to SU” instead of that being further down.

>  - unauthorized use or misuse of IT systems

Condensed the last two points: licensing moved, legal advice doesn’t really need to be here, and the rest can be summarised with just this.

**Thoughts?**