Is there some kind of best practice philosophy? I work with many things running at once and it always confused me why sites would push you exclusively to the link you clicked.<p>Weigh in Gentle Fops and Courtesans.
<i>it always confused me why sites would push you exclusively to the link you clicked</i><p>They don't. The browser gives you a choice (via mouse-buttons.) The alternative, forcing links to a new tab or window, is what takes away user choice.
I was using HN as an example. I have noticed that many sites do this (non tech sites as well).<p>On something like a Macbook, or other one button mouse computers most consumers aren't as quick with their understanding of "right click menus" and other options.<p>Does anyone have a strong feeling when building a site about this?<p>In my experience when I am on a site with many things I want to interact with, if I am pushed out of the site to interact I am less likely to come back.
Choosing to open in a new tab must be muscle memory territory for geeks. I must have done it thousands of times on my MBP and I can't remember what I do. I think it's holding the Cmd key.<p>I'm browsing with a Kindle right now which is actually a non-tabbed browser with only one type of click. Hilariously it in fact refuses to open links that try to force a new tab.
I don't understand why this isn't just a setting on each of our account preferences; if you want links to open in a new window you'd just 'check' that option. Choice solves the debate (aka each their own...).