What's worse: Enjoying a movie in the theater with friends, only to find yourself aggressively shushed by a busybody? Or being unable to concentrate or follow a film because of incessant talking and texting?

Today, tech blogger Anil Dash—responding in part to venture capitalist Hunter Walk's call for movie theaters with lights and Wi-Fi—forced the internet into action by siding firmly on those who prefer to talk, in a post called "Shushers: Wrong About Movies. Wrong About the World.":

Did you know: There are millions of people for whom the experience of going to the movies in public is expected to be enthusiastic, not monastic? [...]

People who have fun at the movies can make almost any movie better. When the first Transformers movie came out, one of the key moments in the film is the first time the leader of the Autobots transforms in grand fashion from tractor trailer to giant robot, and pronounces “I am Optimus Prime”. At that precise moment, the guy next to me, a grown man in his early 30s, rose to his feet and shouted “YEAH!” while punching his fist in the air. I could see from his sheer emotion that he’d been waiting for this day, to hear this voice say those words, since the moment his stepdad walked out on his mother. This was catharsis. This was truly cinematic.

In the other corner, former Gawker blogger Richard "Bring Back" Lawson:

So, what's worse? Aggressive shushers ruining the opening-night horror movie experience? Or loud talkers killing the delicate vibe of your movie?

[image by Jim Cooke]