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Comment by southernplaces7 | Hacker News Reader

Can't stand websites that don't let you right-click on other links on their pages. Who the bloody hell are you to control my reading, clicking and ADHD habits for me, especially over some nonsensical concern about me copying your mostly mediocre content?

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Web developers that fuck with the browser's functionality deserve to spend eternity stepping on rusty legos while barefoot with James Blunt blaring in the background.

When I look at disciplines other than my own, I can recognize the skill and elegance that goes into it, even though I don't have those skills myself.

But when I look at the output of web development, and I see smooth scrolling, scrolljacking, excessive whitespace, artificial latency before UI popups ... I just don't get it. How can an entire field, as a default practice, intentionally make things bad?

Web development merged with the advertising industry right after tripod starting showing ads.

https://thehistoryoftheweb.com/ads/

There has to be more to it. Even services I pay for (the rare ones that don’t also spam my experience with ads) pull from a grab bag of bizarre user hostile quirks.

I think it's that the mentality has invaded the medium of the web. Capturing users/audience is a way to demonstrate "value". Services we pay for want to show wall street how loyal their customer are.

Each auto company want's to have an app store rather than having users just directly connecting and using their phones as the car's infotainment system.

It's all misguided.

AFAIK clicking the wheel (which used to be middle click) opens the link in a new tab on most systems and browsers, if that's your aim.

I feel stupid now, because I never even thought of that, but yes, you're right.

On mac cmd + click opens in new tab. Afaik, it is ctrl + click on Windows.

Wow, it even blocks text selection.

I have a browser extension called "Enable Right Click" installed, and that fixed the right-click issue, but not the text selection issue. I'll have to start looking. Of course the real fix is to send the one(s) responsible for web page to the deepest pits of everyone's favourite hot place.

Turn of JS. The you can right click. A lot of paywalls do not work without JS either.

Better link might be: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-08-11-viking-silver-hoard-rev...

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