MD88 DEP FROM ATL IS REFUSED TURN AWAY FROM WX BY ATC.

Narrative

DURING CLBOUT WITH A LARGE AREA OF CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY NORTH OF THE FIELD; WE WERE GIVEN A TURN TO 360 DEGS WHICH HEADED US DIRECTLY FOR THE TSTMS. I REQUESTED A LEFT TURN FOR WX. ATC MERELY REPLIED 'SMOOTH RIDE AHEAD' AND 'STAY ON 360 DEGS.' I WAS SEEING LIGHTENING AND WAS CONCERNED WITH THE RADAR RETURNS AND AGAIN REQUESTED A L TURN. THE CTLR REFUSED IN A VERY CONTEMPTUOUS MANNER. I RPTED THE LIGHTENING. ANOTHER PATRONIZING REFUSAL FOLLOWED. I WAS NEVER GIVEN A REASON FOR THE REFUSAL OF MY REQUEST FOR A TURN. IF IT WAS TFC; I NEEDED TO KNOW THAT. I FELT MY ACFT AND PAX WERE ENDANGERED NEEDLESSLY AND PROBABLY FOR NO MORE REASON THAN THE CTLR FEELING MY REPEATED REQUESTS WERE AN INCONVENIENCE TO HIM. IN THE FUTURE I WILL REFUSE THE INITIAL VECTOR TO FORCE HIM TO PROVIDE THE VECTOR JUSTIFICATION AS IS REQUIRED. JUST BECAUSE THE ATC CTLR FEELS IT IS INCONVENIENT OR BELIEVES HE HAS BETTER INFO THAN THE CREW IS NO JUSTIFICATION FOR THE VERY UNPROFESSIONAL MANNER IN WHICH HE ACTED. RADIO TFC DID NOT PRECLUDE ATC ANSWERING WITH A REASON IN THIS CASE.