This feature request is partially a response to the following: [URL inside parenthesis are not automatically hyperlinked](http://meta.stackexchange.com/q/99904/162705).

I propose requiring link text for all hyperlinks in questions and answers (and by extension, not converting bare URLs into hyperlinks). [Cody Gray](https://meta.stackoverflow.com/users/153008/cody-gray) makes the following case for using link text instead of bare URLs (emphasis is mine).

> The problem [in which bare URLs between parentheses are not
> automatically converted into hyperlinks] solves itself if you don't
> post bare URLs. Make the link text *explanatory.* **Showing us where the
> link goes is what tooltips are for.**
>
> There are very few cases where bare URLs make sense, and in those few
> cases, you could use the "workaround" of creating a hyperlink with the
> URL as the link text.

Note that this would only apply to

- questions and answers (not comments)
- links outside of the Stack Exchange network (as [Robert Harvey](https://meta.stackoverflow.com/users/102937/robert-harvey) [has pointed out](http://meta.stackexchange.com/questions/99955/require-link-text-for-hyperlinks-in-questions-and-answers-by-disabling-automatic/99957#99957), "bare links automatically get descriptions if the links are within the SE Network")