Only a small percentage of the controller work force in the system today-or for that matter, in the past-are or have been pilots. Controllers are taught to perform the duties and provide the services that are outlined in the controller's bible, the FAA Order 7110.65, Air Traffic Control Manual. While they have been made aware of litigation in which the courts have cited controllers for not doing enough for a pilot(Avianca Flight 52), they are also aware that some people in the aviation community feel that controllers sometimes try to do too much in the way of providing assistance and thereby impinge on the pilot's responsibilities. Somewhere in between, perhaps we can find a happy medium.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.avweb.com/flight-safety/technique/atc-pitfalls-communication-2