Of course 'kid' is a young goat.   But it is often also used for young people.   Generally I would think of it as refering to a preadolscents, and usually to a male or in the pural to a group of male and female children.   However when used to indicate that this person was young, nieve, and experienced when compared to others in his group, I would also accept the word 'kid'.   So for a junior member of a political party who is just past his teens, yes, I think 'kid' could be used.   Tone of voice would indicate whether it was in jest, or affectionate, or insulting.  

"Let's hear it for the kid," when a junior player makes a point, or scores a goal, or wins a promotion is affirmative.   Tossing 'the kid' to the lions is a put-down.   Saying something like "Listen up, kid, and you might learn something." is an insult.

Hi chemgal,

It is all of the above and should be received as it was intended.

When unsure of the intent the most mature response is to ignore.

Grace and peace to you.

John

Some might think that I'm a kid at 26, but I basically refer to anyone younger than me as a kid.

Generally, I agree with seeler.  Tone and context are key to avoid making it sound insulting.

I wish someone would call me a kid.

Agreed -- often anyone younger than you are. Can be derogatory if it refers to ignorance or callowness. Also, to parents, adult children are always "kids" (mine is turning 40!).

I think that Billy the Kid was a teenage gunslinger.

Come over to the last post threads. We often call each other kids there.

As in quite fighting kids or you'll have to get out and walk!

My Aunt and Uncle call us "the kids", which is kinda funny but cute. It shows that they remember when I was a kid, and that they maintain that age superiority over us, and care about us, and include hubby in that category.

In high school, we had a guy two years older than the rest of us in art class, and he called all of us "kids". It made him sort of fatherly to us, so we called him "Father ____" . At first I was insulted, but then came to respect and admire him.

Gererally, "kids" means pre-adolescents who can be a pain in the neck, unable to look after themselves, but often cute and loveable because of it.

There's only been one kid on the forum that I know of, a 12 year old girl who was here briefly.

I have no problem with the term when it refers to minors or a relationship (no problem if aunts, uncles, parents, etc call me a kid).  Sports I think it starts to border on offensive, depending on how it's said.  Beyond that, are we taking away the sense of responsibility for some adults?

Yes, I think that's what it would mean calling another adult a kid. Calling them irresponsible, immature.

I think it depends on a lot of things, including who you are and who you're talking to.  For anyone under about 12, I think it's generally accepted by everyone that they ARE kids.  Sometimes it's a continuation of a long term relationship, such as between an older sibling and a younger sibling.  Most of the time it's not a big deal.

I think the main problem with people taking offense is when the person being called kid is a a teenager, and possibly right through to about age 30 in some cases.  In the case of a teenager, it's often used to take power, such as "You're just a kid...you don't know any better...you have to do what I say."  For those in their 20s, it's not usually so heavy handed, but being called kid can often imply that you're not being taken very seriously, especially in the work place. 

Elanor, I'm asking if we are removing responsibility from them.  Not just saying that they are irresponsible.  Oh, that prank was done by kids - should we then be charging them as adults?

Hi chemgal. I just caught this thread. I am the one (or one of the people) who refered to the person in the voter manipulation thread as a "kid". He's not really a kid, but a young adult. I guess I am becoming like my own parents, now that I'm 40, anyone 25 or under, now is a "kid" to me, because I notice the generation gap now...but of course they are adults. Although the brain doesn't stop developing until age 26, and the Government of Canada  considers anyone 15-24 to be a youth to participate in youth programs (except the justice system). I know youth unemployment programs are up to age 30...so it's all relative. If we're talking about voting, you're not a kid past age 18.

Here's a really interesting article on 20's somethings today...and a paragraph copied from it explaining the later brain develpment than was once previously believed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/22/magazine/22Adulthood-t.html?pagewanted=all

When the N.I.M.H. study began in 1991, Giedd said he and his colleagues expected to stop when the subjects turned 16. “We figured that by 16 their bodies were pretty big physically,” he said. But every time the children returned, their brains were found still to be changing. The scientists extended the end date of the study to age 18, then 20, then 22. The subjects’ brains were still changing even then. Tellingly, the most significant changes took place in the prefrontal cortex and cerebellum, the regions involved in emotional control and higher-order cognitive function.

I don't mind being called a "kid"--still happens at family events,   my step siblings and I are still "the kids"..we don't have kids of our own (they're holding out for my  much younger half brother still). Personally, I don't think it's a huge deal. It never insulted me anyway. I'd much rather the familiar store clerk down the street said "Hey, kid. Nice to see you. How're doing doing today?" than "Hello, ma'am. Can I help you?"

 I respect that people older than me often have wisdom I don't have, even now that I am 40. Actually, I have a friend quite a bit older than me who called me "just a kid" recently...and I was a little taken a back at first, but then realized she had an important point to make that I missed because of the generation gap and her life experience. Also, sometimes it's a compliment in a way...eg. in the workplace "kid" can mean "hotshot" or still full of energy and enthusiasm..and is often meant as a term of endearment in a casual context...and sometimes it  implies immaturity... but that doesn't have to negate accountability.

No wonder I didn't take school very seriously eh! Not fair having to choose a profession at 18 or 19. For the rest of my life I thought. One shot.

Checking out that study Kimmio. "Maturing later" is interesting. What about 100,000 years ago when we typically only lived to be 35? Could it be to do with holding kids back, keeping them young longer...

Eeee, I hate being called Ma'am! It's so matronly, often insulting. Waiters use it when they're annoyed with you.

I like being a kid compared to someone else still. Makes me feel... yes, less burdened with responsibility, at least for a few minuites. Like someone around me is wiser. LIkewise, when a man lovingly calls his wife "kid", like in that old movie...

Chemgal, maybe charging them as adults past the age of 18 would be a good idea, but then maybe not. Should people go to juvie up to the age of 26? Like vandalism, just kids? Hooligans, hoodlums... 'Cource they should have responsibility. As a teen I knew I could get away with more than I would be able to when I was older. It is however a chance to make mistakes without ruining your life... But if you knew you could go to jail, kids might grow up faster? No, I don't think things should be brushed off as just kids stuff.

Take bullying for example. It should definately be taken seriously. Then there's dangerous sports like bunjy jumping, snow boarding... Kids stuff?

They crashed the car and drove drunk... kids stuff? Someone died.

Each case is different. I don't really know.

Enjoyed that article Kimmio. It seems to me that the brain matures later nowadays becuase it has the chance to. The brain is both nature and nurture. It is reflecting the changes installed by society.

I think it's great to have a period of self exploration, but not to loose track of having a plan, not to have too much freedom, or ass covered by mom and dad. Need to develop one's adulthood, which is painful, or at least it was for me, without mommy and daddy coming to the rescue.

When I finished high school it was quite common, almost customary, to take a backpacking adventure, generally overseas, but accross Canada was also accepted. Some people did a world tour. It can definately change your life. I'll never forget the terrifying feeling of getting on that plane on my own without parents, when I was 21. And later when we ran out of money and had to find work pronto.

Then again later, when I was 24, when we came to stay at Mom's and her new husband's house, after my room had been cleared out and re-painted, and things got too crowded after three weeks, and we had to take off and be homeless, in the winter, living out of the car, till we found work. Frightening but valueable experience.