That's what it does in virtually every browser on virtually every system I have used recently. My Q was for OP, as I think this is the behavior s/he is looking for.

I second the recommendation for the Extension Tab Mix Plus

select the option:

Force to open in new tab All Links (Lock all tabs)

and Firefox multi-tab browsing will function exactly like what you are asking for.

Yea it works...thank you guys for your informative links, and about:config settings...these worked great... as for #11
matthewg42 wanting to have firefox open a tab but not go to tab here are the settings you need to change with about:config:

[I]browser.link.open_external 3
browser.link.open_newwindow 3
browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction 3
browser.tabs.loadInBackground true
[I]

matthewg42, thanks for your information (as well as to the rest of you) i found it very informative. I found a solution to opening links in new tabs without being redirected to the new tab right away. Here are the setting you need to change in about:config

browser.link.open_newwindow 3
browser.link.open_newwindow.restriction 3
browser.link.open_external 3

browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground tue

There are many strange and useful beasties to be found in about:config, that is for sure

Are there any how to articles on FireFox about:config? Like a complete description to what every thing is and does?

In one of the first "proper" computing jobs, I had been shown around, and found a temporary desk. I was told that I should try to find out everything I could about the system which I would be working with. I approached my colleagues and asked if they had any detailed documentation - database design documents and so on.

When they had stopped laughing, and realised I was serious they looked at me pityingly and said, "well, the real documentation is the source code. If you really want to know what it's doing, look at the code".

I don't know about the items in about:config. Probably there are some out of date and incomplete lists out there, but ultimately, looking at the code is the only sure way to know.

That is kinda what i figured Mat, thanks once again for all of your help guys. You are all the greatest source for my learning.