That marching orders thing is interesting. My late H was like that, too. I would bring something up as an opener to a discussion, and he took it as gospel handed down from the mountain top. I always assumed it was because his first wife was a major general type. She didn't have opinions, she gave orders. If she said, "the grass is getting a little tall," that MEANT "go mow the grass!" If I said, "The grass is getting a little tall" it could mean anything... it might mean, "wow, that looks cool, I'd like to go lie down in it." I used to tell him over and over again, "I don't want to be the CEO in this R."
Bf does this to some extent, treating my comments as marching orders, then getting mad at me for being "demanding."
Hmmm... maybe this is why I related to that comment of yours.
