Grief, I didn't mean to cause a firestorm here - SSD is closest to what I meant (even if my phrasing was arguably a little flippant).
I've at various times had ATC (and yes, I mean ATC, not AFIS) give me instructions that if followed would have caused breaches of rule 5, taken me IMC in a VMC aeroplane, taken me in a microlight about 30 seconds behind a landing airliner, taken me into a position where in a single engined aeroplane I would have absolutely no chance of surviving an engine failure. On two occasions, whilst following the instructions of one controller, I've transgressed on another controller's airspace without, as I later discovered, their agreement to my entering it (strangely neither got MOR'd
).
There are two big pictures - the one I can see, and the one seen by the controller. If they ask me to take a particular course of action and I can see that it is sensible, safe and legal - then of course one should read back the instruction and follow it. However I have a duty on me as captain of an aircraft to consider ATC instructions, and if there is any good reason not to follow the instruction, to advise the controller immediately of the problem and ask for an alternative.
Or to re-iterate...
I do what ATC asks me to ONLY when it co-incides with my own interests. Otherwise I will politely discuss with them a more appropriate course of action!
Flying into IMC without the appropriate kit on board, flying at 2000ft over the middle of a city, getting caught in the wake turbulence of a landing airliner, and breaching the ANO are all actions that I class as "not co-incident with my own interests". In the wider picture, I'm probably doing the controller a favour too since I imagine he'd get at-least some share of the blame.
G
N.B. Gertrude, whilst your trusting nature is very laudable, bear in mind that whilst you, for-example, know the crosswind limits of your aeroplane - the tower controller probably doesn't....
N.B.B. Chilli Monster, surely you don't think any qualified pilot is going to obey any instruction of yours if they consider it likely to either endanger the aircraft or breach the ANO?