CPR SMT IFR DEP TEB COPIED CLRNC TO MAINTAIN 1500 FT; 080 DEG HDG. CTLR QUESTIONED THE TURN AND SAID VECTOR WAS TO 280 DEGS. RPTR THOUGHT UNUSUAL TO GET 080 DEGS WHICH WAS OPPOSITE THE DIRECTION HIS DEST WAS BUT THOUGHT IT MUST BE FOR OTHER REASONS. NO CONFLICT RESULTED.

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AFTER TKOF FROM TEB AND EXECUTING THE DEP SID; CTLR SAID 'REMAIN 1500 FT R TURN TO 080 DEGS.' RESPONDED WITH 1500 FT AND 080 DEGS. MAINTAINED 1500 FT; STARTED R TURN TO 080. WHILE PASSING THROUGH 350 DEGS; CTLR SAID DO NOT TURN PAST 360 DEGS TURN TO 280 DEG HDG AND ASKED WHY WE TURNED PAST 280 DEGS. WE COMPLIED AND THEN TURNED TO 280 DEGS AND RESPONDED THAT HE SAID 080 DEGS. OBVIOUSLY; EITHER THE CTLR SAID 080 DEGS OR 280 DEGS. BUT TO MY RECOLLECTION HE SAID 080 DEGS. I UNDERSTAND MY RESPONSIBILITIES -- WE DID HEAR 080 DEGS AND COMPLIED; BUT I KNOW THAT I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO QUESTION THE INSTRUCTIONS AND NOT COMPLY IF UNSAFE. THAT WAS A BAD HDG (IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN US IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF OUR DEST ARPT). BUT ALSO DEPARTING IFR OUT OF THE NY AREA SOMETIMES TO GO E ONE IS TURNED W. I KNEW IT WAS A BAD HDG BUT REASONED THEY DO THIS ALL THE TIME. THE CTLR ALSO AS USUAL IN NY WAS BUSY WHICH COULD'VE CAUSED HIM TO SAY 080 DEGS. I AM A FLT INSTRUCTOR AND I KNOW THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF ACCEPTING A CLRNC. ONE SOLUTION TO AID ALL IS BETTER INFO AS TO THE ROLE OF THE PLT IN REGARDS TO COM. AS FAR AS CTLRS; THEY COULD ALL THE TIME EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR THEIR HDGS WHEN IT SEEMS ILLOGICAL. THE BIG PICTURE IS INFO -- IF EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT THE OTHER IS THINKING; THEY'LL WORK FOR THE SAME OUTCOME. I KNEW IT WS A BAD HDG BUT REASONED THAT THIS IS DONE ALL THE TIME AND THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T QUESTION.