By looking at my screen? But also, why would you disobey a direct instruction from you super?

I know the job market is rough right not but I sure hope it isn’t so bad that senior engineers like yourself have to tolerate micromanagement at this level.

I don’t consider telling a manager that something is not a reasonable ask to be an act of disobedience.

There is too much power distance between yourself and your manager.

> why would you disobey a direct instruction from you super?

Because the instruction was stupid, based on marketing instead of utility, or otherwise given without any thought to how it impacts the actual day-to-day work of their subordinates.

Why WOULDN'T you disobey a stupid instruction? What's the difference between "stop using this tool you're productive in and switch to this one that you're demonstrably LESS productive in for no reason other than I heard it was a good idea", and "Go strap some rocks onto your ankles and swim the English channel. I heard that was a good idea."?