The 'Professionals Have Standards' meme originates from the 'Meet the Sniper' promotional short for the video game Team Fortress 2, released by Valve in 2008. In the video, the Sniper explains his philosophy to his father, listing his three main rules: 'Be polite, be efficient, and have a plan to kill everyone you meet.' The specific frame where he mentions having standards has become a legendary internet template used to describe situations where someone maintains high quality or specific principles, even in ridiculous or questionable contexts. It is frequently applied to gaming, software development, and everyday chores to humorously elevate mundane tasks to the level of professional expertise.