By Satyakam Ray

The web series The Family Man 2 has become popular on Indian OTT platforms. The spy thriller, starring Manoj Bajpayee and Samantha, has become the talk of the town. Apart from the terrorists, Srikant Tiwari (Manoj Bajpayee) has to deal with his family members, specifically his daughter Dhriti. The teenager was adamant and spoke in slang that was incomprehensible to Srikant.

When Dhriti was kidnapped, and Srikant questioned her classmates and friends to elicit vital information regarding the kidnapper, he faced a precarious yet funny situation. The generation gap between the father and daughter was visible. Astonishment and bewilderment were written all over Srikant’s face. While listening to the teenagers’ English, he gave a puzzled look that summed it all up. 

During Srikant’s interaction with Dhriti’s classmates, one adjective stood out: “capitalistic baboon.” Of course, Srikant was puzzled as hell! While watching the show, the author also got confused. After searching for the meaning of ‘capitalistic baboon,’ the author found no clear definition. The baboon is a primate native to Africa and Asia. Baboon also means jerk in urban jargon. Capitalism is invoked whenever anyone buys petrol for their bike. But what does ‘capitalistic baboon’ mean when combined? The jerk who brags about materialistic achievements or believes in capitalism in general? Finding a Gen-Z person to explain its true meaning would help—but that’s easier said than done.

Teenagers aged 15–16 discussing capitalism, socialism, misogyny, patriarchy, and ideological differences may seem odd to people over 30. While theoretical knowledge of these terms may seem impressive to teenagers, genuine understanding comes from real-life experience.

This generational gap is relatable to ’90s kids who encounter such language in adulthood. In the ’90s, kids fought over remote controls or video games. Complex vocabulary was unfamiliar to many youngsters; today, many adults feel equally lost hearing such language. Considering the new world of tech-savvy parentage, it’s a lot of hard work for adults to keep up with the kids nowadays. 

The new generation’s mindset has shifted significantly in recent years. The pace of change is rapid, and those who cannot adapt are dismissed as outdated. The boomer generation, holding traditional values, often struggles to keep pace with younger generations. The English-speaking style and word choice have undergone drastic changes. For some, profanity has become a marker of sophistication among English speakers. The augmentation of liberalism has gone beyond its actual territorial influence and missed the subtle nuances of being polished or gentlemanly in general.

In a popular TVF parody of Roadies, a bald character mimicking Raghu roasts contestants by calling them sexist, capitalist, racist, and even exorcists. The phrase ‘capitalistic baboon’ was clearly on the character’s mind. Another noteworthy moment was a parody of Ranvijay’s signature address. Ranvijay told the contestant that he didn’t know he was a racist! He was heard saying, “Tujhe pata nhi, but tu hai.”  

After observing these interactions, the author decided to approach conversations with Gen-Z more patiently. Armed with a notebook, the author plans to document the new slang and expressions used by Gen-Z. Oops! Did the author say baboons? It is not an ideal way to end an article, but Fworthy should mention the magic word to people with an 8-second attention span.