# Goddamn web pages that screw with the middle-button functionality **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 13, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-web-pages-that-screw-with-the-middle-button-functionality/673839 "2013-11-13T17:57:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-web-pages-that-screw-with-the-middle-button-functionality/673839/1 "2013-11-13T17:57:35Z")
When I read a web page that has links I’d like to explore further, I middle-click them so they open in other tabs, and then I read them when I am done with the current page. But a lot of pages lately seem to be fucking with that. Last night, I’m on a page where the middle click was opening the link in the _current_ page, so the current page goes away before I’m done with it. Today, I’m on page where the middle click is doing absolutely nothing. Yes, I can right-click the link and choose 'Open link in a new tab", but I shouldn’t fucking have to. Stop fucking with the middle button goddammit! ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-web-pages-that-screw-with-the-middle-button-functionality/673839/2 "2013-11-13T18:02:15Z")
Agreed. I’m still mad at Firefox for changing middle click from opening in a new window to opening in a new tab. I hate tabbed browsing, and I wish they would give us back the option to completely disable them. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-web-pages-that-screw-with-the-middle-button-functionality/673839/3 "2013-11-13T18:09:00Z")
There’s a lot of this going around lately, depending on the device and browser. The one that pisses me off the most: disabling pinch-to-zoom on the iPad. I’m looking at you Slate, even though you’re dead to me now! Also many sites that splash ads up that completely obscure or disable the page you’re trying to view. I’ve trained myself not to look at the advertisers. But on the off chance I do see it, I add them to my mental list of “never buy anything from them”. ---
**Author:** ![blindboyard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blindboyard/32/2833_2.png) [@blindboyard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blindboyard)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-web-pages-that-screw-with-the-middle-button-functionality/673839/4 "2013-11-13T19:41:47Z")
There are really people surfing without blocking adverts or javascript? Middle click is good. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-web-pages-that-screw-with-the-middle-button-functionality/673839/5 "2013-11-13T20:28:41Z")
> [@blindboyard](#): > > There are really people surfing without blocking adverts or javascript? > > Middle click is good. I use adblock and flashblock, but the last time I tried blocking javascript it broke too much stuff. I imagine that would solve the issue with the middle button though. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-web-pages-that-screw-with-the-middle-button-functionality/673839/6 "2013-11-13T20:36:17Z")
> [@Revtim](#): > > I use adblock and flashblock, but the last time I tried blocking javascript it broke too much stuff. I imagine that would solve the issue with the middle button though. If you use Chrome, there’s an extension called [Quick Javascript Switcher](https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/quick-javascript-switcher/geddoclleiomckbhadiaipdggiiccfje) that adds a button to enable/disable it and reload with one click. I find it useful to use it, but then I’m probably slightly paranoid. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2013, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/goddamn-web-pages-that-screw-with-the-middle-button-functionality/673839/7 "2013-11-14T03:28:20Z")
Thanks **Steophan** I’ll check that out.