Solution:
Make sure that minimum font size is set to "none" which is the default.
(Preferences --> Content --> Advanced)
This occurs whether "allow pages to choose their own fonts..." is checked or
not.
Since I can zoom instead, and since I know to avoid this, this effect is
hardly critical for me any more. Hopefully we'll get lots more people using
Trisquel, which means there is a chance someone will make the same mistake I
did.
Do you think there is a better way to handle this at the web programming
level. If not, they can always look up this thread!