Willie you said..
"Therefore, my opinion, Captains aren't in a position of 'bossing' anyone around let alone 'commanding', 'ordering' or 'telling' an F/O what to do and what not to do. Those days are gone I'm afraid."
The first problem is there are F/Os who share your opinion...sometimes encouraged by trainers.
The second problem is this opinion is in direct conflict with every legal statement made in this area.
In the section of my ops manual "organisation and responsibilities"
Sub section "Authority. Duties and responsibilities of the Commander" (note it does not say Captain).
The commander shall:
"(a) Be RESPONSIBLE for the safe operation of the aeroplane and safety of its occupants during flight time.
(b) Have AUTHORITY to give all COMMANDS he deems necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of the aeroplane and of persons or property carried therein, and all persons carried in the aeroplane shall obey such commands."
An aircraft Captain / Commander has FULL responsibility for the operation (read any investigated incident report). With this has to come full authority...you cannot have one without the other.
Polite requests are normally the way to go...and they normally work...but when you fly with people who try to reverse the authority gradient you have to deal with that.
If you condone that behaviour not only are you encouraging it but (if the dreaded day comes where you have a major incident developing) be in no doubt you will have these guys making decisions for you.
This is not the time to be wrestling your authority back from the right seat.