Catch-22: Do you all know what the expression "Catch-22" means? I find that it fits so many situations, but it is also an old term, from the 1961 book of the same title. I use it...

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Do you all know what the expression "Catch-22" means? I find that it fits so many situations, but it is also an old term, from the 1961 book of the same title. I use it occasionally, and I wonder if people know what I'm talking about.

Carl S

Great book and movie. Sometimes I feel just like Yosarian!

BrianFlaherty Loc: Wilseyville, CA

jerryc41 wrote:

Do you all know what the expression "Catch-22" means? I find that it fits so many situations, but it is also an old term, from the 1961 book of the same title. I use it occasionally, and I wonder if people know what I'm talking about.

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I believe "Catch 22" was one of those phrases that were coined during American "military activities" of the 19th; 20th; and, 21st Centuries. . .As in "AWOL" or "SNAFU" or "Section 8;" et al. If you watch "MASH" on TV, you will hear many more of these "creative" abbreviations that derive from the numerous "necessary forms" or "clerical necessities" employed in "official activities."

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

BrianFlaherty wrote:

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I believe "Catch 22" was one of those phrases that were coined during American "military activities" of the 19th; 20th; and, 21st Centuries. . .As in "AWOL" or "SNAFU" or "Section 8;" et al. If you watch "MASH" on TV, you will hear many more of these "creative" abbreviations that derive from the numerous "necessary forms" or "clerical necessities" employed in "official activities."

It seems that the expression comes from the novel.

"MORE ABOUT CATCH 22
What does Catch-22 mean?

Coming from the novel of the same name, a Catch-22 is a situation where one is trapped by two contradictory conditions. It’s more generally used to refer to a paradox or dilemma.

Example: to get a certain job, you need work experience. But to get that work experience, you need to have had a job. It’s a Catch-22."

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/catch-22#:~:text=Coming%20from%20the%20novel%20of,It%27s%20a%20Catch%2D22.

JayemCO Loc: Colorado @ 9000 feet

jerryc41 wrote:

Do you all know what the expression "Catch-22" means? I find that it fits so many situations, but it is also an old term, from the 1961 book of the same title. I use it occasionally, and I wonder if people know what I'm talking about.

Catch 22 comes from Section 8 Paragraph 22 of the military regulations in effect in the 40's or 50's. Section 8 explained how a person could proven to be crazy and be discharged. Paragraph 22 stated that if an individual claimed to be crazy then they were not crazy and could not be discharged as crazy. A book and a movie were made with that title.

Bridges Loc: Memphis, Charleston SC, now Nazareth PA

jerryc41 wrote:

Do you all know what the expression "Catch-22" means? I find that it fits so many situations, but it is also an old term, from the 1961 book of the same title. I use it occasionally, and I wonder if people know what I'm talking about.

Similar to "Between a rock and a hard place".

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

JayemCO wrote:

Catch 22 comes from Section 8 Paragraph 22 of the military regulations in effect in the 40's or 50's. Section 8 explained how a person could proven to be crazy and be discharged. Paragraph 22 stated that if an individual claimed to be crazy then they were not crazy and could not be discharged as crazy. A book and a movie were made with that title.

Good book; good movie.

bw79st Loc: New York City

JayemCO wrote:

Catch 22 comes from Section 8 Paragraph 22 of the military regulations in effect in the 40's or 50's. Section 8 explained how a person could proven to be crazy and be discharged. Paragraph 22 stated that if an individual claimed to be crazy then they were not crazy and could not be discharged as crazy. A book and a movie were made with that title.

Actually the title is fictional. There is no Paragraph 22. The number was suggested by the editor Robert Gottlieb when they decided that Catch-18 was too similar to the recently published "Mila 18."

Check the "Title" section of the Wiki page.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch-22

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

bw79st wrote:

Actually the title is fictional. There is no Paragraph 22. The number was suggested by the editor Robert Gottlieb when they decided that Catch-18 was too similar to the recently published "Mila 18."

Check the "Title" section of the Wiki page.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catch-22

Is that like not having a thirteenth floor in a building? They just skipped over it?

tgreenhaw

Wikipedia to the rescue:

"A catch-22 is a paradoxical situation from which an individual cannot escape because of contradictory rules or limitations. The term was coined by Joseph Heller, who used it in his 1961 novel Catch-22."

Stephan G

jerryc41 wrote:

Do you all know what the expression "Catch-22" means? I find that it fits so many situations, but it is also an old term, from the 1961 book of the same title. I use it occasionally, and I wonder if people know what I'm talking about.

When I had US Taxation courses years back, the code was enacted in 1957. The attendant defining regulations took three books to go with the law. I forget the specific regulation, but there was a regulation that actually was 180 degrees of the law. I contacted the IRS office regarding this issue. I was told that the regulations have the same authority as the law. The next query, which do I deem to be the law?, I was told that I would be held responsible for both (!). In the update of regulations in 1962 (I think), the regulation disappeared.

philo Loc: philo, ca

some one said to Heller...........you haven't written good since Catch 22. Heller answer........who has!!!!!!!!!

Reuss Griffiths Loc: Ravenna, Ohio

jerryc41 wrote:

Do you all know what the expression "Catch-22" means? I find that it fits so many situations, but it is also an old term, from the 1961 book of the same title. I use it occasionally, and I wonder if people know what I'm talking about.

I liked the man in white, totally bandaged from head to toe with a tube running into his mouth from a bottle and a tube out of his waist into a bottle and every 4 hours, they switched them.

fantom Loc: Colorado

BrianFlaherty wrote:

==========
I believe "Catch 22" was one of those phrases that were coined during American "military activities" of the 19th; 20th; and, 21st Centuries. . .As in "AWOL" or "SNAFU" or "Section 8;" et al. If you watch "MASH" on TV, you will hear many more of these "creative" abbreviations that derive from the numerous "necessary forms" or "clerical necessities" employed in "official activities."

You should read the book.

Carl S

The book is well worth reading, and it was one of the first anti-war novels written, with humor. If you have ever served in the military, especially the Army, you will identify with several of the characters in the book, especially the antics of the trading that goes on in the military. During the Vietnam conflict, I was the company commander of a signal company supporting the 1st Air Cav in An Khe, and our trading commodity was electrical power which we traded for all sorts of goodies from various officer and non-com clubs on base. We were always well stocked up with good beer, whisky, and steaks: you always had to pay your bill for electrical service!