I realize this. But I'm not exactly sure why staring at the wall looks better than someone actively using a computer, but that's just me. I had this discussion with someone at my internship and they couldn't give me an answer.

I think it all comes down to a power struggle. If a supervisor wants you to snap to when they need you and doesn't care what you do until they do (like my boss), that's one thing. Some (who, IMO, don't usually have enough to do in their job so they end up micromanaging those under them), go insane if the person under them is doing something else, even when all else has been finished. I just think it's bad managment, frankly. Someone who's happy at their job is going to be willing to do a lot more for you than someone who feels trapped in a facist regime.