Yes, imposing your will on others in a sneaky way is always a good idea.

How about this idea - you let other people do what the airline intends for them to be allowed to do, what you knew they could do when you booked your ticket and what they are fully entitled to do?

How about you try to control your reactions, like an adult, instead of wasting time trying to figure out how to control others, to take what isn't justifiably yours? The space in which the seat ahead can recline is not yours.

Do you also wait for your friends to walk out of the room when you are visiting their homes so you can sneak their money or possessions into your pockets? Do you wait for the people sitting next to you at the restaurant to look the other way so you can take their drinks? Let's face it. What you are doing on the plane - taking space obviously meant for the person whose seat is designed to use that space - is the same taking as the money or drinks, isn't it? (Any attempts at rationalization aside. Rationalization is, after all, trying to justify something you want when all ethical roadmaps point towards it being wrong.)

Grow up. Learn how to live in a society where you need to share and consider that what others want and are entitled to may not be what you want. I'm sorry, but this sets me off. Have we really become this selfish and self centered? I'm not sure which amazes me more; That a grown adult would push the seat forward or that a grown adult would admit to this in public, let alone advocate its use. "If I want what isn't mine, I'll just take it when nobody is looking" doesn't look good either way.

A reclining seat has never killed the person behind, caused grave illness or otherwise seriously impacted the other person. Flights are limited duration. If you cannot control yourself for a few hours while someone's seat is closer than you would like, perhaps you should either only fly private jets or just stay at home.