That may work.... I can think of a situation recently when I could have just said "why do you ask?".

I have learned and changed, in that when I was in my 20's... I would try to talk rationally to my criticizers and defend myself.. They loved that.... it's like I was telling them that their criticism had merit, and that I didn't understand the "game" (the game being that we're trying to make you feel bad about yourself... and it's working!).