When middle-clicking a link, I expect it to open in a new tab, not reload the current page.

This is part of my workflow when going through a list of links, or thumbnails, and I want to open several -- or at least keep the list open for when I'm done with each link.
I find it very annoying when websites override this simple browser behavior, via Javascript.

While I too override the default behavior in my applications -- to make room for Ajax, for instance -- I allow users to middle click the link and open the page in a new tab. Because if they middle click, that's what they want and who the hell am I to tell them they're wrong ,eh?

I do this by adding this bit of code to the beginning of my click handlers

$('.some-snazzy-selector').click(function(ev){
    if( ev.which == 2 || ev.metaKey || ev.ctrlKey || ev.shiftKey ){
        return true;
    }
});

This snippet I picked up from Kyle Neath also allows the user to open a new tab by holding down the shift key, or control key, or command key for the Mac users.

Delicious, I'm looking at you! Let me middle click your links, dammit!