No matter how many times I click on the confirm email link, this keeps happening. I'm having a lot of problems with xf that I can't resolve and it's getting frustrating.
It should open a new tab with the forum coming up and giving you a message that your account is approved.
You sure the link in the email is live? Instead of clicking try copying the link and pasting it into the addressbar of a new tab. Some email programs disable clicky links to protect you from phishing.