Download this add-on: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/cookie-monster/

Also, this one: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/adblock-plus/

I've included a screenshot of the options to configure Cookie Monster on the link you provided. I didn't get any popups at all because I've never been to that site before and the default for Cookie Monster is to reject cookies as shown in the screenshot.

thanks for the link. i never had problems with 2.x but after upgrading to 3.x and now 4.x it's become much more frustrating for me. i hate having so many add-ons but if that's what i need to get the functionality that used to be native to firefox then i guess that's the way it has to be....

You're welcome.

Do not use Delete browsing, search and download history on Firefox to clear the "Site Preferences"

Clearing "Site Preferences" clears exceptions for cookies, images, pop-up windows, software installation, and passwords.

that doesn't really have anything to do with my original issue. the way it used to work way back when was this: the first cookie attempts to set itself, i click "deny" and no other cookie from that domain tries to set itself.

the way it works now is this: the first cookie attempts to set itself, i start to click "deny" and EVERY COOKIE from that domain tries to set itself, prompting multiple popups for setting cookies which i have to click away until i can get to the actual web page. cookie monster is definitely the thing i was looking for, but the problem is that firefox used to do this on its own and hasn't since 3.x first came out.