How to explain to a younger guy that you don't like him back without hurting his feelings?

[Anonymous]

This is an awkward situation. A boy 4 years younger than me (I'm 23, he is 19) requested me to help him with academics recently. I helped him. Later he started following me on social media and both of us kind of have similar interest areas. He texted me about some shows we both apparently love a lot and we had few nice conversations. I was talking to him the way I talk to my younger cousins. However, he has recently confessed to someone I know that he likes me.

It feels weird and kinda illegal (he's an adult as per my country's standards). It is more uncomfortable because in few months I'm going to teach at a college and there I'll have students his age. Someone that young is like a child to me. How do I nicely explain myself if he talks about it to me without hurting his feelings?

[ohsheeT]

On life you will see if you pay attention to every thing the things we go through are learning experiences to teach us before the next moment in time. I would have to say that there are goingbto be many more like him. I say this because we all have an energy within in we are made of energy

Some people understand this some don't
Some can feel it through many different ways

Who you are as a kind caring person it reflects with your energy
And if you have passion if you are sensual and so on

This is what people can see and feel coming from you
We project our aura or energy 15 feet all around ourselves but it can be felt from coast to coast if you understand it

But anyway you are going to experience this all your life
So your going to have to think of something or a way to still be yourself and teach the reasons you are you and reason why you can't ir can do things

[Bricealan]

There is NO good solution to that. When I was 19 I met a girl who was 22, while I out dancing at a local hot spot... we dated for several months and I was not experienced enough in dating, and sexually, etc, and she finally broke off with me.

I was absolutely broken hearted for months... and I even went to the church I attended and talked to a counselor while in tears. It was absolutely terrible and I still think about her to this day.

[Ez-Bri-Z_v2]

I think you should just be upfront that you aren't interested in him and not give any other excuses like you aren't dating right now (unless that's the truth and you really don't want to date anyone atm).

You can say you see him more as a close friend. He may not like being put in the friend zone, but at least he will possibly leave you alone about the possibility of dating.

[PeachyPie93]

Just be up front, there is no way to not hurt someones feeling when rejecting him. Just say I am not attracted to younger guys.

[ProbablyClueless]

Hurting his feelings is unavoidable. Just don't be aggressively unpleasant about it and you'll be doing everything you can.

Just explain that you aren't comfortable with the age situation. It doesn't need to be a big deal.

[glennos89]

Just be honest about it. We all get rejected sometimes we just have to learn to deal with it

[In_Trance]

Just say it straight up and get it over with.
When you start worrying about hurting people's feelings your message gets construed.

[BobbyLee789]

Just tell him you'll always think of him as a good friend.

[Emanon16]

Tell him, you’re talking to someone else