What's with this "redirect" page?

[LAHs]

Perhaps this is old news (I've only just noticed it) but when you click on a link (very kindly supplied by a commenter) you go to a redirect page which asks you if you want to go to that link. YES OF COURSE I DO OTHERWISE I WOULDN'T HAVE CLICKED ON IT! So, OK, I get to the link, read it then click the back arrow and it takes me back to the redirect page, that is OK (sort of) but then the back arrow fades and you cannot go back to the forum thread without going through "history". What the hell is all that about? Maybe it only happens on a Mac? Maybe it's a short coming of my e-mail provider? Does anyone else have this problem?

[helvella Administrator]

But how do you know you want to visit the page?

In a post, only a part of the link is shown. So you simply cannot know where the link will take you. I offer this example:

llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogeryc...

The redirect page shows the link in full. Which allows you to assess whether or not you want to visit.

Further, if you wanted to copy a link, the redirect page makes it easy to see the full link and copy it.

(Yes, some browsers do display the full link somewhere. But this is a simple and consistent approach.)

[LAHs in reply to helvella]

OK, got it. I would never have guessed in a million years the rest of it was hwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch . It could have taken me to Welsh Border Collies for sale, that would have been unspeakable.

But how about getting me back with two clicks of the back arrow instead of having to rummage through the history menu? Is that just my set up?

[RedApple Administrator]

I'm on a Mac, using Safari. The redirect notice opens in a new tab. So I still have the original forum thread page open in the previous tab as well

[helvella Administrator in reply to RedApple]

Same for me - on a Windows 10 PC using FireFox.

[LAHs in reply to RedApple]

Thanks, yes I am on Mac + Safari. Looks like my e-mail provider gets in there and loses the original tab. Nevermind, not a big deal, much bigger problems to worry about.

[LAHs in reply to LAHs]

Oh.... OK.... Tabs...Duh!

My tabs bar gets so cluttered I gave up using them, they rotate and are abbreviated to oblivion. But yes, I get it all now. Thanks.

[SilverAvocado in reply to LAHs]

I love tabs. I feel like they are very compatible with the thyroid brains When friends see my computer or phone they look in horror and awe at how many tabs I have open.

I'm on my phone at the moment and have 37 open. Yes, they are all important, thank you very much!

[Zephyrbear in reply to RedApple]

Also works that way for me on a Mac with Firefox...

[Angel_of_the_North]

It's supposed to protect you from dubious sites. But, in real life, most people have the same attitude as you and just click anyway, so it is of little real-world value. Check where the link is actually going, then, if you DO want to go there, right click and open in new tab.