What is "Catch-22"?

[unbasslichkeit]

I just found an excerpt from the book which best describes it:

"There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and could be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to fly more missions.

Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to.

Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle."

 

[EricF]

To paraphrase....you're screwed no matter what you do.

 

[middy]

So... what was your question?

 

[Bard2dbone]

"That's some catch. That catch-22."

"It's the best."

 

[Blueszilla]

A dilemma; where both options to a decision have negative results. That's how I read it anyway.

 

[stedtale]

god bless heller

 

[unbasslichkeit]

I propose that there is a phenomenon known (or to be known as) "GAS-22":

"Unbasslichkeit would be crazy to buy another bass and sane if he didn't; but if he was sane he had to buy it. If he bought it he was crazy and didn't have to, but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to."

Yeah..dat's the ticket....

 

[middy]

If only I could buy bass gear with all these shares of M&M.... :scowl:

 

[Sonic_Death]

I don't see why people don't invent words and phrases more often. Catch-22 was essentially invented and ingrained into popular culture from that book, and now millions of people know what it means and use it daily.

Those are really the kinds of things that I think the English language needs more of. Words that, despite being small in word length, carries a lot of meaning with it, and the person will know exactly what you are talking about when you say it. We should have more words that symbolize meanings much greater.

 

[arbitrary]

Just be glad you're not born on leap year!

 

[GYang]

PRS Custom 22 guitar is my catch 22

 

[stedtale]

I don't see why people don't invent words and phrases more often. Catch-22 was essentially invented and ingrained into popular culture from that book, and now millions of people know what it means and use it daily.

Those are really the kinds of things that I think the English language needs more of. Words that, despite being small in word length, carries a lot of meaning with it, and the person will know exactly what you are talking about when you say it. We should have more words that symbolize meanings much greater.

"I smell what your steppin' in" = I understand what you are saying.

 

[burk48237]

It is my understanding, and feel free to correct me if I'm wrong that it is one more then a "catch 21". Much like amps with 11 on the knobs are obviously louder, this just goes without saying.

 

[Sonic_Death]

"I smell what your steppin' in" = I understand what you are saying.

But in my ideal, I would rather replace the whole ideal of "I understand what you are saying" which something else completely, and something shorter, like in the vein of Catch-22.... not just a metaphoric phrase for the initial meaning.

 

[stedtale]

But in my ideal, I would rather replace the whole ideal of "I understand what you are saying" which something else completely, and something shorter, like in the vein of Catch-22.... not just a metaphoric phrase for the initial meaning.

ok.....

shoptime = i understand what you are saying

done


next

 

[Sonic_Death]

ok.....

shoptime = i understand what you are saying

done


next

Good job.

May the list grow greater.

 

[stedtale]

Time for the Hammer = to stop oneself, to collaborate, and to listen

 

[Atoz]

I thought that "Catch 22" was what Mets outfielders would do if you hit them 100 fly balls.

 

[Eric Perry]

Time for the Hammer = to stop oneself, to collaborate, and to listen

Such a hammer, in this case, would be Vanilla in nature.

 

[stedtale]

Such a hammer, in this case, would be Vanilla in nature.

indeed, however, i was going for a cross-cultured approach, due to all the racism and such.