New Windows

[filkertom]

Serious question: When I post a link, I usually use the "_blank" modifier, so it will open in a new window or tab. Does this bug you? And, if so, why?

ETA: For the people asking how to do it -- as jss1113 mentions below, the HTML to open a new window is: <a href="http://www.yourwebpage.com" target="_blank">

Opening a new tab, rather than a new window, is a function of your browser settings. The usual setting in Firefox is to have a middle-button click on the URL open it in a new tab.

And... a number of people below mention the primary reason I do it: so that you're still at this page, for any number of reasons -- consistent browsing environment, so you can comment here, whatever. In these heady days of infinite browser tabs, I find it much easier to have an extra tab or three open than to use multiple Back commands, or work my way through the History and try to remember what the title of a given page was....

Comments

[hsifyppah.livejournal.com]

Mildly. It's easy for me to spawn a new tab or window when I want one, and when I don't, I expect the link to use the current one, so having _blank set makes me take an extra step. But there are so many sites out there with crappy design that limits my control of my own browsing in more serious ways (resizing windows, flash sites you can't link to, blah blah blah) that it's a pretty minor annoyance in the grand scheme of things.

[folk.livejournal.com]

Yeah, what hsifyppah said.