Earlier this week, a flight from New Jersey to Denver was diverted when two passengers got in a fight over reclining a seat.

A 48-year-old man used a Knee Defender, a device that prevents the seat in front from reclining, on the sides of his tray table on United Airlines flight. The woman of the same age sitting in front of him tried to recline, then protested to a flight attendant when she was unable to do so. Even though the attendant attempted to defuse the situation, it escalated: The man refused to remove the device and the woman threw water in his face.

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The tussle escalated to the point where the plane was forced to land at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, and both passengers were left there as the plane continued on its way to Denver.

The incident has stirred a passionate debate online, with travelers revealing their rather intense feelings about airplane seat reclining etiquette.

.@slate and @jbarro are battling it out in my Discover tab pic.twitter.com/cHnboFBeHg — Melanie Renzulli (@melanierenzulli) August 27, 2014

Some outlets have weighed in with civilized rules about the appropriate reclining times, but the debate elicits a visceral reaction from many. It pretty much boils down to two camps.

The recliners' arguments

As a very tall person, I would like to register my non-objection to airplane seat reclining. I can always recline too. @jbarro — Loren Adler (@LorenAdler) August 27, 2014

I’m 6’4” and I’ll be damned if anybody is going to stop me from reclining. Don’t like it? Blame the airlines for cramming people too close — Casey Jenks (@yeabuddy) August 27, 2014

I’ll recline if and when I like. I’m reclining now. — Kid Presentable (@MetricButtload) August 26, 2014

For me, the ability to recline is a matter of religious freedom. So... — David Waldman (@KagroX) August 27, 2014

The anti-recliners' arguments

I have a built-in Knee Defender: my knees. Try to recline all you want. I'm not moving them. You're only punishing yourself. — Jesse Thorn (@JesseThorn) August 27, 2014

Team No One Should Ever Recline On An Airplane — John Moe (@johnmoe) August 26, 2014

pretty sure the recline button on airplane seats is just a mechanism for detecting particularly despicable humans — Graham MacAree (@MacAree) August 27, 2014

I've only been on a plane once and I was younger but I don't really like the idea of the reclining so I'm defently a #SitUp person — + mackenzie (@KenzieAnne417) August 27, 2014

. @caribouwho @adamostrow @nycjim @Slate I break up more fights on the plane over passengers reclining than anything else. Ridiculous. Sad. — Heather Poole (@Heather_Poole) August 27, 2014

The reasoning for — or against — reclining varies, but height is a common factor in most complaints.

The standard seat pitch on airplanes has decreased from 33-34 inches to 31 inches, but airlines say they have avoided scaling back on legroom by using thinner seats. Many travelers don't buy that.

As Ed Hewitt remarked on the Independent Traveler, airline seats are smaller than those in other situations where people sit together, including offices and movie theaters.

"I don't even try crossing my legs on a plane; I might break something," Hewitt, who is 6'1", wrote.

Free Idea: More legroom — Neetzan Zimmerman (@neetzan) August 27, 2014

"It doesn't matter what anyone thinks," said flight attendant Heather Poole, a flight attendant who wrote a book about crazy passengers (among other things). "The fact is passengers are allowed to recline — and they don't have to ask for permission to do so, even though that is a nice thing to do and relieves a lot of tension."

Poole said she breaks up fights between passengers over reclining seats more than anything else, and offered some advice for travelers worried about the close quarters of an airplane.

"If space is so important to you, pay the extra fee to sit at the front of coach where there's a little more leg room," she told Mashable. "Also, if you are going to freak out because somebody's all up in your space, do us all a favor and wait until we're safe and sound on the ground so we don't have to divert the flight."

Of course, peacemakers linger among us, hoping to find a middle ground.

@johnmoe Team Sometimes My Leg Goes Numb and I Have To Recline My Seat a Bit To Not Be In Total Agony By Sitting at 90 Degree Angle — DMad (@divinemadness) August 26, 2014

Which side of the debate do you fall on? Tell us in the comments.