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Non-Fiction
SOGgen
By Fledermaus
14 June 2007
SOGgen is a verb used by Dutch students. Used by other people it sounds weird and forced. I once saw a billboard depicting a girl in bikini sitting on the beach with the text " Hey SOGtje" written above her. It just didn't feel right: People in the commercial business using that word. And they turned it into a noun, a diminutive even, what blasphemy. The way the had written it, with a -tje suffix rather than a -je suffix indicated that they had no idea of the pronunciation. Of course they were aiming at students, but still; it was like old people using words like 'cool', 'wicked' and 'awesome' just to look young.
The letters SOG stand for "studie ontwijkend gedrag", which is Dutch for "study avoiding behaviour". A noun phrase indeed, but never used as such.
It's used amongst peers:
" Did you study for the exam?"
" Well, I tried to, but I was mainly SOGging..."

SOGgen could be reading your e-mail, chatting with your friends, making a phonecall, playing video-games, watching TV, and so on... Going out is hardly ever counted as SOGgen, nor are neccesary things like cooking and cleaning, unless of course one deliberately takes too much time for such things. SOGgen isn't planned, it's just something that happens.
In earlier times students would fall asleep on top of their books, now they start to SOG. I think it's also some sort of euphenism: " I was SOGging" sounds a lot better than " I'm bloody lazy".
It's an excuse for not having studied. You realy, realy tried to... But then you went SOGgen.

I think that SOGgen is caused by the modern world. We aren't taught any discipline at school. If people fail their exams it's not their fault, but the exam's. If we did not study, it was not our fault, but that of our computer and television. We're surrounded by distractions, can be online 24/7 and don't want to miss our favorite TV series either.

Gosh... How much time did I waste on typing this? Now that is SOGgen...

Reviews

Written by Phil (6681 comments posted) 14th June 2007
My son is an expert SOGgenner. Shame they don't give qualifications in it. 
 
Phil.
Hi Fledermaus
Written by jean.day (2266 comments posted) 14th June 2007
Really enjoyed this. I SOGgen all the time - its called writing on GW - or getting ready to - or hoping that it has worked. All to avoid the real world - and especially housework.

Written by Janie (265 comments posted) 14th June 2007
how educational, i never realised i was a sogger...i realy should be getting ready for work now. 
 
yes you're right, not much discipline in schools these days...not the teachers' fault really..parents have such a downer on them that it rubs off on their kids..they are faced with cheeky brats who answer back and do what they want regardless, all with the full backing of their parents who then complain at their poxy punishment of a detention, or if they're really lucky, suspension (which the kids love!)..which is about all the sanctions there is nowadays..the latest talk is that teachers will not even be allowed to shout at kids next, not that i believe shouting gets you anywhere, but there are times when it's called for...oh and the parents want webcams in the classroom to see how well their little darlings are being taught...let's hope they see how well they are behaved too huh? 
 
sorry, a bit of a rant there :grin

Written by Fledermaus (3246 comments posted) 15th June 2007
Thanks Phil, Jean and Janie. 
You won't find it in a dictionary, as it's student-slang really, which was why it surprised me that those commercial guys had picked it up. I think it has to do with the modern way of life: A week ago I went a few days to the countryside (which appearantly we still have in the Netherlands), without internet or telephone and I did more than I did in the whole month before. 
 
The educational system might have something to do with it though: I remember that when I started at the uni, we just accepted things as they were. It was no use argueing with the teachers. Yet now a new generation of students has arrived, educated in the so called "study house" and they complain a lot more than the freshmen of a few years ago. 
 
I do blame the government for 'modernizing' the highschools, inspite of complaints of teachers, pupils and parents. From what I've heard it's a complete mess nowadays...

Written by wltshr (300 comments posted) 15th June 2007
I seem to remember my father telling me the same things I told my kids. That things were different, better, more disciplined, when I was your age. 
 
If any of what you are saying is true then we have been grossly misled.  
 
Surely, exam results are getting better year on year aren't they? 
 
More people are qualifying for University than ever before. Aren't they? 
 
Am I just being naiive? Does the Pope sh*t in the woods? 
 
Regards 
 
Wlthr

Written by ellipinnock (1753 comments posted) 15th June 2007
I think writing about not working has to be a very good example of SOGgen fledermaus! 
 
Liked this very much - really interesting insight... 
 
Elli

Written by Fledermaus (3246 comments posted) 18th June 2007
Thanks Wlthr and Elli, 
Perhaps I'm getting old then, thinking that everything used to be better ;) 
And GW is SOGgen indeed for me!

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