diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/template_helpers.py b/r2/r2/lib/template_helpers.py
index b781525ec..ae114d498 100755
--- a/r2/r2/lib/template_helpers.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/template_helpers.py
@@ -227,13 +227,13 @@ def comment_label(num_comments=None):
     if not num_comments:
         # generates "comment" the imperative verb
         com_label = _("comment {verb}")
-        com_cls = 'comments empty'
+        com_cls = 'comments empty may-blank'
     else:
         # generates "XX comments" as a noun
         com_label = ungettext("comment", "comments", num_comments)
         com_label = strings.number_label % dict(num=num_comments,
                                                 thing=com_label)
-        com_cls = 'comments'
+        com_cls = 'comments may-blank'
     return com_label, com_cls
 
 def replace_render(listing, item, render_func):
diff --git a/r2/r2/templates/link.html b/r2/r2/templates/link.html
index 6dd657f80..719744730 100755
--- a/r2/r2/templates/link.html
+++ b/r2/r2/templates/link.html
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 </%def>
 
 <%def name="make_link(name, css_class, tabindex=0)">
-  <a class="${css_class} ${ c.user_is_loggedin and 'loggedin' or ''}"
+  <a class="${css_class} may-blank ${ c.user_is_loggedin and 'loggedin' or ''}"
      href="${thing.href_url}"
      %if tabindex:
        tabindex="${tabindex}"
@@ -50,9 +50,7 @@
      %if thing.nofollow:
        rel="nofollow"
      %endif
-     %if thing.newwindow:
-       target="_blank"
-     %elif c.cname:
+     %if c.cname:
        target="_top"
      %endif
      %if thing.mousedown_url:
@@ -173,8 +171,7 @@ ${parent.thing_data_attributes(what)} data-ups="${what.upvotes}" data-downs="${w
 
 <%def name="subreddit()" buffered="True">
   ${plain_link(thing.subreddit.name, thing.subreddit_path, sr_path = False,
-               cname = False, _class = "subreddit hover",
-               target='_blank' if thing.newwindow else '')}
+               cname = False, _class = "subreddit hover may-blank")}
 </%def>
 
 <%def name="midcol(display=True, cls = '')">
diff --git a/r2/r2/templates/link.htmllite b/r2/r2/templates/link.htmllite
index 9223386db..61e899cca 100644
--- a/r2/r2/templates/link.htmllite
+++ b/r2/r2/templates/link.htmllite
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
     %if c.site.link_flair_position == 'left' and thing.flair_text:
       ${flair()}
     %endif
-    <a class="reddit-link-title"
+    <a class="reddit-link-title may-blank"
       ${optionalstyle("text-decoration:none;color:#336699;font-size:small;")}
        %if thing.is_self:
          href="${permalink}"
@@ -74,8 +74,6 @@
        %endif
        %if c.link_target:
          target="${c.link_target}"
-       %elif c.user.pref_newwindow:
-         target="_blank"
        %elif c.cname:
          target="_top"
        %endif
@@ -113,7 +111,7 @@
       </span>
       &#32;|&#32;
       %endif
-      <a class="reddit-comment-link"
+      <a class="reddit-comment-link may-blank"
          ${optionalstyle("color:gray")}
          %if c.link_target:
            target="${c.link_target}"
diff --git a/r2/r2/templates/printablebuttons.html b/r2/r2/templates/printablebuttons.html
index ddd067ecd..86b2cacdb 100644
--- a/r2/r2/templates/printablebuttons.html
+++ b/r2/r2/templates/printablebuttons.html
@@ -179,8 +179,7 @@
     <li class="first">
     ${self.comment_button("comment", thing.comment_label, thing.permalink,
                           _sr_path = (thing.promoted is None), 
-                          a_class = thing.commentcls, 
-                          newwindow = thing.new_window)}
+                          a_class = thing.commentcls)}
     </li>
   %endif
   %if thing.editable:
@@ -290,8 +289,7 @@
                             _("full comments") + " (%d)" % thing.full_comment_count, 
                             thing.full_comment_path,
                             _sr_path = True, 
-                            a_class = None, 
-                            newwindow = thing.new_window)}
+                            a_class = "may-blank")}
       </li>
     %endif
     %if not thing.profilepage:
@@ -490,11 +488,10 @@
 
 ### originally in commentbutton
 <%def name="comment_button(name, link_text, link,\
-            _sr_path = True, a_class='', title='', newwindow = False)">
+            _sr_path = True, a_class='', title='')">
   ${plain_link(link_text, link, 
                _sr_path = _sr_path,
-               _class=a_class, title=title, 
-               target='_blank' if newwindow else '_parent')}
+               _class=a_class, title=title)}
 </%def>
 
 <%def name="bylink_button(title, link)">