Young Democrats/Republicans clubs at school

[EquALLity]

Teenagers aren't 'kids'.

Depends on how old you are.

I don't think it's a good idea to manipulate him into going vegetarian or something. That would have to require leading him on, and I don't want to do that...

It would not require leading him on. It would require saying "Hey, have you seen this? I want to know what you think."

He's older than me, but all high schoolers are teenagers, not kids.

It does require leading him on, because if I know he likes me, wouldn't not bringing it up but continuing to talk to him about things normally and being nice to him be leading him on? It seems like that to me.

[brimstoneSalad]

He's older than me, but all high schoolers are teenagers, not kids.

Teens are kids.

kid1
noun
1.
informal
a child or young person.
synonyms: child, youngster, little one, baby, toddler, tot, infant, boy/girl, young person, minor, juvenile, adolescent, teenager, youth, stripling; More

It does require leading him on, because if I know he likes me, wouldn't not bringing it up but continuing to talk to him about things normally and being nice to him be leading him on? It seems like that to me.

No. You don't have to mention it, and you probably shouldn't. It would be embarrassing for him and he would deny it. If HE brings it up, then it would be appropriate to address it.

[EquALLity]

He's older than me, but all high schoolers are teenagers, not kids.

Teens are kids.

kid1
noun
1.
informal
a child or young person.
synonyms: child, youngster, little one, baby, toddler, tot, infant, boy/girl, young person, minor, juvenile, adolescent, teenager, youth, stripling; More

It does require leading him on, because if I know he likes me, wouldn't not bringing it up but continuing to talk to him about things normally and being nice to him be leading him on? It seems like that to me.

No. You don't have to mention it, and you probably shouldn't. It would be embarrassing for him and he would deny it. If HE brings it up, then it would be appropriate to address it.

Dictionary definitions barely tell you anything because they do not include connotations.
Cheap and inexpensive basically have the same dictionary definition, but everyone knows that cheap is often an insult. Calling a scarf cheap would be like calling it low quality, while calling it inexpensive would just mean it has a low price.

It seems inherently deceiving (AKA lying) to know that someone thinks or feels something about you and not to address it.

[Red]

But a dictionary will always use the accepted definition of a term. Some may be more broad, and others would be more precise. They all mean essentially the same thing. And a word may be a synonym to another word, but it can also have another definition of it's own. (The word 'set' has over 100 definitions if I'm not wrong)

BTW, teens are kids. A minor is someone under the age of 18. Teens 13-17 are minors.

[brimstoneSalad]

Dictionary definitions barely tell you anything because they do not include connotations.

Do you mean to say you don't think the connotation of "kid" applies to this kid in the republican club? That he's very adult, professional, experienced, and mature beyond his years? Did you find it offensive that I referred to him as a kid because of this?
Maybe you like him too.

Cheap and inexpensive basically have the same dictionary definition, but everyone knows that cheap is often an insult.

Sometimes it's an insult. That's more modern slang, but it's in the full definition:

Full Definition of cheap
1
a : purchasable below the going price or the real value
b : charging or obtainable at a low price <a good cheap hotel> <cheap tickets>
c : depreciated in value (as by currency inflation) <cheap dollars>
2
: gained or done with little effort <a cheap victory> <talk is cheap>
3
a : of inferior quality or worth : tawdry, sleazy <cheap workmanship>
b : contemptible because of lack of any fine, lofty, or redeeming qualities <feeling cheap>
c : stingy <my cheap uncle>
4
of money : obtainable at a low rate of interest

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheap

Full Definition of kid
1
a : a young goat
b : a young individual of various animals related to the goat
2
a : the flesh, fur, or skin of a kid
b : something made of kid
3
: a young person; especially : child —often used as a generalized reference to one especially younger or less experienced <the kid on the pro golf tour> <poor kid>

It seems inherently deceiving (AKA lying) to know that someone thinks or feels something about you and not to address it.

It's not deceptive, that's not your job. If you are asked and then lie it is. But it's a very normal part of human social interaction to ignore some things; it's not expected or required.
You can address it if you want to embarrass him. It won't change anything, though. Even if you said "I know you like me, I don't feel the same way, but I'd like to be friends". Doesn't make him stop liking you or hoping.

[EquALLity]

Do you mean to say you don't think the connotation of "kid" applies to this kid in the republican club? That he's very adult, professional, experienced, and mature beyond his years? Did you find it offensive that I referred to him as a kid because of this?
Maybe you like him too.

Actually, I'm offended because when you call someone older than me a kid, you are essentially calling me one too.

Sometimes it's an insult. That's more modern slang, but it's in the full definition:

That's not the standard definition/denotation; it's the connotation. It's added into that definition due to popular usage, but the original definitions are the same.

It's not deceptive, that's not your job. If you are asked and then lie it is. But it's a very normal part of human social interaction to ignore some things; it's not expected or required.
You can address it if you want to embarrass him. It won't change anything, though. Even if you said "I know you like me, I don't feel the same way, but I'd like to be friends". Doesn't make him stop liking you or hoping.

It might be 'normal' to avoid uncomfortable topics, but that doesn't make it GOOD or honest.
If you know someone thinks/feels something about you in secret, not letting the person know is inherently deceptive.
It's like if you learn a secret about someone and pretend like you don't know. Actually, it's LITERALLY that.

Why would I want to embarrass him? I'm not a jerk.
I just don't want him to hope for some kind of relationship when I'm not interested. Wouldn't that be cruel?

Also, I don't necessarily want to be friends with him. He made a joke about hanging me and then lied about it.
I just don't want to hurt his feelings unnecessarily.

[brimstoneSalad]

Actually, I'm offended because when you call someone older than me a kid, you are essentially calling me one too.

I could call him a kid in the sense of being intellectually or emotionally immature, while saying you aren't one: IF I mean immature in that sense.
If I only mean age, e.g. under 18, then yes you're both kids, but then that's not the other definition/useage.
You can't mix and match definitions though. If I were using the insulting meaning, then it would NOT be calling you a kid to call him one.
I call 20-somethings kids too. "College kids" etc.

That's not the standard definition/denotation; it's the connotation. It's added into that definition due to popular usage, but the original definitions are the same.

It's in the definition, I quoted it. The ORIGINAL meaning is a young goat. Obviously none of you are young goats.
It's an informal word. There's not really a fundamental difference between a connotation and a denotation.

Don't be so sensitive.

It might be 'normal' to avoid uncomfortable topics, but that doesn't make it GOOD or honest.

Good and honest are not the same. There's some overlap, but what's good isn't always honest and what's honest isn't always good.

If you know someone thinks/feels something about you in secret, not letting the person know is inherently deceptive.

No it isn't. It's only deceptive if there's an expectation that you should talk about that. There isn't one.

It's like if you learn a secret about someone and pretend like you don't know. Actually, it's LITERALLY that.

Pretending you don't know by lying when somebody asks is different from not bringing it up.
If you saw a naked picture of somebody, and knew he or she would be mortified if he or she knew, would you bring that up?

Why would I want to embarrass him? I'm not a jerk.

Then don't say anything about it unless he asks. It serves no purpose other than to embarrass him.

I just don't want him to hope for some kind of relationship when I'm not interested. Wouldn't that be cruel?

If you let him take you on dates and buy you things, that would be cruel. There's expectation there. There's no expectation here.

He WILL hope for romance where none will come. If not you, then his next crush. He'll do it many times in his life until he learns to navigate social situations and read social cues better. He's going to get his heart broken a few times, whether it's you or somebody else. You aren't increasing the demand for awkward teenage boys and bringing them into existence to do this to them. They're everywhere. You're going to break some hearts, that's just part of life.

Either something good can come out of it, and make him a better person, or nothing can come out of it at all. Look at the consequences, and decide what you want to do.

Also, I don't necessarily want to be friends with him. He made a joke about hanging me and then lied about it.
I just don't want to hurt his feelings unnecessarily.

Read this: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/the-white-flight-of-derek-black/2016/10/15/ed5f906a-8f3b-11e6-a6a3-d50061aa9fae_story.html?postshare=7921476734005519&tid=ss_fb

Friendship is the best tool we may have to overcome ideological hate. Don't let one stray comment or bad joke take that tool away from you.

[PsYcHo]

I could call him a kid in the sense of being intellectually or emotionally immature, while saying you aren't one: IF I mean immature in that sense.
If I only mean age, e.g. under 18, then yes you're both kids, but then that's not the other definition/useage.

Or perhaps he is goat-like in appearance?

Friendship is the best tool we may have to overcome ideological hate. Don't let one stray comment or bad joke take that tool away from you.

Good advice. Jokes are often told based on the audience that is supposed to hear them.

[EquALLity]

You guys will not BELIEVE what happened to me at the Young Republicans Club today.

Since the election just happened, I wanted to go to their meeting and discuss the election. I was actually going to, at least to an extent, reach out an olive branch. We had advisory meetings today about the election and respect for everyone.
Now, I wasn't going to say good things about Trump. But I was going to try to be friendly.

Remember, at the first meeting, I made a statement about how I think the Young Democrats and Young Republicans should unify. The dems agreed, but not the repubs... I cannot imagine anything like what happened at the young repubs happening at the young dems.

Ok, so I showed up to a room where I saw the club adviser (I wasn't sure where they were meeting), and he was talking to a student about how "it's like winning the world series" (some sports thing, football I think), so I assume they were talking about the election. I put my stuff down and went to the bathroom, and when I came back they were gone! The lights were on and the door was open, which to me would indicate people were going to come back (or that's how they were trying to make it look), but then to be fair they might've just left it like that because I left my stuff in there.

A woman came in.
"Are you looking for your teacher."
"Well, I'm here for a club, but I'm not sure if they're in here."
"What club?"
"The Young Republicans Club. But I'm not a republican ( I was kind of embarrassed to suggest I might be republican so I had to clarify), I just want to discuss with them."
"I saw them in the room next door."
"Oh, thanks!"

So I walked in, and they all gave me this look like "bitch".
I think someone said "why are you here" or something, but it gets better.
"I know, you guys missed me." (I said this totally lightheartedly because they were all giving me the evil eye and I wanted to diffuse the situation)

One guy, "This is a closed meeting, registered republicans only."
"You guys can't vote, you can't be registered republicans."
He didn't respond to that directly because I was generally bombarded with a bunch of people- including the CLUB ADVISER.
Another guy said, "The football team has closed meetings."
"That's different"
"Why is it different?"

The club adviser, who was carrying a cake because they were celebrating Trump winning (lmao), ALSO told me that it was a closed meeting for republicans only.
I said I didn't necessarily want to be there when they were celebrating Trump winning, and then he immediately tried to change it to that topic instead of addressing the problem of them kicking me out for not conforming to their echo chamber.

"That's not the point, it doesn't matter if I want to be here. You guys can't kick me out because I don't agree with you."
But they all, including the TEACHER, maintained that they could.
"Ok, I'll ask the main office."

So I went to the main office.
The ladies at the front desk were shocked when I told them that the teacher was apart of it. They said it was really weird.

So now I have a meeting Monday with the woman who manages all the clubs.

They can't do that. They can't kick me out like that, it's not like I was being disruptive. I literally just walked in and they told me to leave. I wasn't being disruptive.
This is a public school. It's like if a Bible studies club kicked out Muslims/Jews/Atheists/Hindus/Buddhists etc..

So... That happened.

[EquALLity]

Interesting.