When one uses the visual editor, as everyone but me does (even I use it most of the time), the Vanilla software errantly includes these attributes inside <A>
(for links):
rel="nofollow" target="_blank"
The first one is arguably harmless in that it ostensibly undermines attempts at spam and “SEO.”
The latter is actively harmful because it opens links in new “windows,” thereby pretending we’re living in late 2001 where nobody can quite figure out that a link takes you somewhere else. Everyone here knows how to open a link in a new tab, and no one needs or asked for every single link taking over our browsers for us.
Further, Vanilla does not know how to mark up paragraphs (with <P>
). It sticks two linebreak elements between paragraphs instead (<BR><BR>
).
Comments
This is 2016 and, I think, tabbed browsers are the norm?
I mostly like it when something that's referenced on a forum opens in a new tab.
Links go somewhere else. We don’t need a new “window” for any or every link.