Do you think you need to want to date the person for it to be considered a crush?

I was thinking back to an old conversation with a friend I had and I pointed out how I have a crush but I don't want to end up in a relationship with them. They said "Then why would you crush on them? For the plot?" And that kind of just pissed me off a little because I think you can still have feelings for someone but aren't ready for a relationship. You still experience the same giddiness and wanting in a crush but that doesn't necessarily mean that I wish to end up dating them. What do you think?