In a former life, I had two step-kids...boys about 13-14 at the time, who considered themselves 'free spitits'....one day they decided they wanted to go downtown and 'swim in the new fountain at the civic center'...I said "no".....they whined and pleaded and started asking "why?". I tried to give reasoned answers, but soon, after about the 10th "why?", I said something like "Because 3 legged elephants can't dance on stairways"
      ...they said "huh?. what's that got to do with it?"....I said "nothing, but you are not interested in reason, or my authority, or ANY answer except the one you want, so what difference does it make whether I give the right answer or a totally silly one...the answer is still "no! I GET to decide, and the answer is NO!"

but when "tilting at windmills" is someone's major hobby, I guess ALL answers just spur them on to greater efforts.