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Whether or not a question is too broad is based on the nature of the required answer.

If you are a subject matter expert:

• If you recognize that the pieces are closely related and the entire question can be answered within the intended scope of an answer, then it isn't too broad.
• If you recognize that the pieces should be separate questions, then it's too broad.
• If you aren't sure or can't decide, click the Skip button in the review queue, or don't VTC as too broad if you found the question outside the queue.

If you are not a subject matter expert:

• Click the Skip button in the review queue or don't VTC as too broad if you found the question outside the queue. Many questions are more simple or more complex than they may appear to someone who is not a subject matter expert, so you are likely to get it wrong.

I'm not sure there is an absolute general rule that applies to all questions beyond that philosophy. It's a matter of judgment based on your subject matter knowledge and knowledge of the site norms.

Bottom line: it is whatever you (and four other people) think it is.

By the time a user earns the VTC privilege, they are trusted to use their best judgment. If unsure about a specific question, the user doesn't have to make a decision, their judgment can be to leave it to other users. They can also raise the specific question here for input.

What if you're wrong?

• All anyone can expect is that users approach the task responsibly.
• In many cases, there isn't a clear right or wrong; it's subjective. That's why five people need to agree.
• Sometimes five people get it wrong. In that case, there is a mechanism for five other people to reopen it.

Whether or not a question is too broad is based on the nature of the required answer.

In very general terms, a question should be a single issue. However, there is a gray area when you get into closely related, multi-part questions.

In some cases, multiple parts are best handled as separate questions, either because:

• a comprehensive answer would be too long, or
• other people may also have one of the component questions, and a composite thread makes it harder to find the component questions and answers.

On the other hand, a question may be requesting a comprehensive explanation of a single issue, and the multiple parts outline aspects to be covered. It may be easier to understand the answer when all of the information is in a single thread.

There is no hard and fast general rule. Whether a multi-part question should be a single question or broken up (i.e., too broad), is a judgment call to be determined by subject matter experts who also understand the site norms for what makes a good question and the intended scope of answers.

Understanding the site norms is the reason for setting rep thresholds. By the time a user earns the VTC privilege, they are assumed to understand, and trusted to use their best judgment. Is a specific question too broad? Bottom line: it is whatever you (and four other people) think it is.

Just because someone has the VTC privilege, it doesn't mean they need to use it on every problematic question. If unsure about a specific question, it can be left to other users. The issue for a specific question can also be raised here for input.

So guidance boils down to the following.

If you are a subject matter expert:

• If you recognize that the pieces are closely related, the entire question can be answered within the intended scope of an answer, and think that it would be best handled as a single thread, then it isn't too broad.
• If you recognize that the pieces should be separate questions, then it's too broad.
• If you aren't sure or can't decide, pass.

If you are not a subject matter expert:

• It is probably best to simply pass on the question. Many questions are more simple or more complex than they may appear to someone who is not a subject matter expert, so you are likely to get it wrong.

What if you make a mistake?

• All anyone can expect is that users approach the VTC task responsibly and in good faith.
• In many cases, there isn't a clear right or wrong; it's subjective. That's why five people need to agree.
• Sometimes five people get it wrong. In that case, there is a mechanism for five other people to reopen it.

If you are a subject matter expert:

• If you recognize that the pieces are closely related and the entire question can be answered within the intended scope of an answer, then it isn't too broad.
• If you recognize that the pieces should be separate questions, then it's too broad.
• If you aren't sure or can't decide, click the Skip button in the review queue, or don't VTC as too broad if you found the question outside the queue.

If you are not a subject matter expert:

• Click the Skip button in the review queue or don't VTC as too broad if you found the question outside the queue. Many questions are more simple or more complex than they may appear to someone who is not a subject matter expert, so you are likely to get it wrong.

I'm not sure there is an absolute general rule that applies to all questions beyond that philosophy. It's a matter of judgment based on your subject matter knowledge and knowledge of the site norms.

Bottom line: it is whatever you (and four other people) think it is.

By the time a user earns the VTC privilege, they are trusted to use their best judgment. If unsure about a specific question, the user doesn't have to make a decision, their judgment can be to leave it to other users. They can also raise the specific question here for input.

What if you're wrong?

• All anyone can expect is that users approach the task responsibly.
• In many cases, there isn't a clear right or wrong; it's subjective. That's why five people need to agree.
• Sometimes five people get it wrong. In that case, there is a mechanism for five other people to reopen it.

Whether or not a question is too broad is based on the nature of the required answer.

If you are a subject matter expert:

• If you recognize that the pieces are closely related and the entire question can be answered within the intended scope of an answer, then it isn't too broad.
• If you recognize that the pieces should be separate questions, then it's too broad.
• If you aren't sure or can't decide, click the Skip button in the review queue, or don't VTC as too broad if you found the question outside the queue.

If you are not a subject matter expert:

• Click the Skip button in the review queue or don't VTC as too broad if you found the question outside the queue. Many questions are more simple or more complex than they may appear to someone who is not a subject matter expert, so you are likely to get it wrong.

I'm not sure there is an absolute general rule that applies to all questions beyond that philosophy. It's a matter of judgment based on your subject matter knowledge and knowledge of the site norms.

Bottom line: it is whatever you (and four other people) think it is.

By the time a user earns the VTC privilege, they are trusted to use their best judgment. If unsure about a specific question, the user doesn't have to make a decision, their judgment can be to leave it to other users. They can also raise the specific question here for input.

What if you're wrong?

• All anyone can expect is that users approach the task responsibly.
• In many cases, there isn't a clear right or wrong; it's subjective. That's why five people need to agree.
• Sometimes five people get it wrong. In that case, there is a mechanism for five other people to reopen it.

If you are a subject matter expert:

• If you recognize that the pieces are closely related and the entire question can be answered within the intended scope of an answer, then it isn't too broad.
• If you recognize that the pieces should be separate questions, then it's too broad.
• If you aren't sure or can't decide, click the Skip button in the review queue, or don't VTC as too broad if you found the question outside the queue.

If you are not a subject matter expert:

• Click the Skip button in the review queue or don't VTC as too broad if you found the question outside the queue. Many questions are more simple or more complex than they may appear to someone who is not a subject matter expert, so you are likely to get it wrong.

I'm not sure there is an absolute general rule that applies to all questions beyond that philosophy. It's a matter of judgment based on your subject matter knowledge and knowledge of the site norms.

Bottom line: it is whatever you (and four other people) think it is.

By the time a user earns the VTC privilege, they are trusted to use their best judgment. If unsure about a specific question, the user doesn't have to make a decision, their judgment can be to leave it to other users. They can also raise the specific question here for input.

If you are a subject matter expert:

• If you recognize that the pieces are closely related and the entire question can be answered within the intended scope of an answer, then it isn't too broad.
• If you recognize that the pieces should be separate questions, then it's too broad.
• If you aren't sure or can't decide, click the Skip button in the review queue, or don't VTC as too broad if you found the question outside the queue.

If you are not a subject matter expert:

• Click the Skip button in the review queue or don't VTC as too broad if you found the question outside the queue. Many questions are more simple or more complex than they may appear to someone who is not a subject matter expert, so you are likely to get it wrong.

I'm not sure there is an absolute general rule that applies to all questions beyond that philosophy. It's a matter of judgment based on your subject matter knowledge and knowledge of the site norms.

Bottom line: it is whatever you (and four other people) think it is.

By the time a user earns the VTC privilege, they are trusted to use their best judgment. If unsure about a specific question, the user doesn't have to make a decision, their judgment can be to leave it to other users. They can also raise the specific question here for input.

What if you're wrong?

• All anyone can expect is that users approach the task responsibly.
• In many cases, there isn't a clear right or wrong; it's subjective. That's why five people need to agree.
• Sometimes five people get it wrong. In that case, there is a mechanism for five other people to reopen it.