'catch 22'?

Catch-22 is a military term that is confusing and difficult to describe. In short, its basic meaning is that if there was a rule, no matter what the rule is, there is always an exception to it.

The catch is used by the superior powers to uphold and increase their power, and yet it is harmful to those who do not have power in the first place. It creates situations where, when you think everything is perfect, Catch-22 pops up and makes your plans impossible.

happyjumpyfrog's explanation is correct for the most part. The novel was set in WWII, not Vietnam.

It's one of the funniest books I ever read.

The book talks about the senselessness and confusion not only of war but also of the military.

Here's the passage:

Yossarian looked at [Doc Daneeka] soberly and tried another approach. "Is Orr crazy?"

"He sure is," Doc Daneeka said.

"Can you ground him?"

"I sure can. But first he has to ask me to. That's part of the rule."

"Then why doesn't he ask you to?"

"Because he's crazy," Doc Daneeka said. "He has to be crazy to keep flying combat missions after all the close calls he's had. Sure, I can ground Orr. But first he has to ask me to."

"That's all he has to do to be grounded?"

"That's all. Let him ask me."

"And then you can ground him?" Yossarian asked.

"No. Then I can't ground him."

"You mean there's a catch?"

"Sure there's a catch," Doc Daneeka replied. "Catch-22. Anyone who wants to get out of combat duty isn't really crazy."

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.

"That's some catch, that Catch-22," he observed.

"It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed.

http://www.amazon.com/Catch-22-Joseph-Heller/dp/06...

You know that old song - There's a hole in my bucket?

It starts with - There's a hole in my bucket and goes through all the ways to fix it which ends with needing to carry water in a bucket which of course takes you back to - but there is a hole in my bucket.

Catch 22 means not being able to solve something because it keeps coming back to where you started or back and forth between 2 things.

Chicken and the egg - catch 22.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

If you left your umbrella in the car when you were in the house, then it rained and you needed to get to the car without getting wet, you'd need an umbrella. But the umbrella is in the car, so you need to get it. But if you go get it, you'll be wet. To stop being wet yu need an umbrella.

Which is in the car.

Of course you could just have 2 umbrella's - one in the house and one in the car. As long as you remembered to take them back to their respective homes afterwards...........lol

It was used in the book of that name to explain the problem of pilots not wanting to fly in the Vietnam war. The only reason not to fly was if you were insane. I f you didn't want to fly and went to see the psychiatrist he would say that you recognised the dangers that showed you were not insane and so should fly. However if you were insane you wouldn't recognise the dangers and so would be willing to fly. So as the person above said the pilots were in a no win situation.

It means that you can not win regardless of what happens.

An example would be to claim you are afraid to go into combat because you might die.

You are insane for not wanting to fight and die, but you would be insane if you wanted to fight and die, so you are not insane for being afraid to die.

It means that no matter what your position you are not going to have a good outcome.

Damned if you do and damned if you don't.

Basically it means a "no win situtation". No matter what the deciscion is, it will be the wrong one.