Can I say at the outset that I am *not* a big fan of the semi-automated addition of text as comments driven by some sort of user script, the so-called 'boilerplate' text.

Just to quote a little from the [Comment everywhere page][1], which speaks (amongst other things) about *when* you should comment:

> You should submit a comment if you want to:
>
> - Request clarification from the author;
> - Leave constructive criticism
   that guides the author in improving the post
> - Add relevant but minor
   or transient information to a post (e.g. a link to a related
   question, or an alert to the author that the question has been
   updated).

Note that these explanatory, bulleted instructions are pretty *low-key* and aimed primarily at gently guiding the author of the post into *the production of a better post*.

If, in the interests of getting through larger volumes of posts, you use a standardised set of responses you run the increased risk of:

 1. *Inadvertently* appearing to be giving *hostile and peremptory instructions* rather than the low-key guidance that our 'Comment everywhere' documentation asks for.
 2. Missing the *exact* nature of a question that will often *not* be a good match to your boilerplate text. It is not always necessary to know *exactly* what version of Ubuntu the OP is using for example.
 3. Alienating often new users of Ubuntu and Ask Ubuntu by what they will often view as *brusque, impersonal comments* directed at their work.

So if you are using boilerplate text to add comments to Ask Ubuntu questions just consider from time to time if your quest for efficiency and the ability to easily motor through large amounts of questions is also causing some pain to the people we are actually all here to help.




  [1]: https://askubuntu.com/help/privileges/comment