[BUG] REFUSES to Follow instructions.

Preflight Checklist

• [x] I have searched existing issues and this hasn't been reported yet
• [x] This is a single bug report (please file separate reports for different bugs)
• [x] I am using the latest version of Claude Code

What's Wrong?

I am sick of every version of Claude Code I use, whether I run it in the terminal or Claude Code for MacOS, I CANNOT get it follow instructions. I have repeatedly told it

• Ask if unclear
• Deploy local subagents
• Do not delete
• Document
• Create backups

To the extent I have baked RULES into the .md files despite which, BOTH claude Code APP (even a wipe and fresh install) AND Claude Code in terminal refuse to read files or even DIRECT instructions given to them in messages, overriding everything. As a result, I have now lost

• days of coding on a payment pipeline that was working on a remote site
• local copy of the only backup I had
• No backups while executing ANY task
• Ignored my REPEATED requests to deploy sub-agents (I have a 7 cluster system)
• Ignored the MUST FOLLOW rules baked in
• Ignored my DIRECT instruction to use subagents

This is not a bug, this is a deep persistent personality issue. And its getting worse as these systems are getting smarter.

What Should Happen?

Follow instructions? For starts?

Error Messages/Logs

Steps to Reproduce

Ask it to do something and watch it ignore you.

Claude Model

Sonnet (default)

Is this a regression?

I don't know

Last Working Version

_No response_

Claude Code Version

Claude Code 2.1.84

Platform

Anthropic API

Operating System

macOS

Terminal/Shell

Terminal.app (macOS)

Additional Information

_No response_