# The simplest definition of a "Catch-22" **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 23, 2022, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simplest-definition-of-a-catch-22/964953 "2022-05-23T19:29:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2022, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simplest-definition-of-a-catch-22/964953/1 "2022-05-23T19:29:03Z")
I need a “Reach and grab” stick to reach and grab my “reach and grab” stick. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2022, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simplest-definition-of-a-catch-22/964953/2 "2022-05-23T21:18:53Z")
If you had a reach and grab stick you wouldn’t need to grab your reach and grab stick. You’d already have a reach and grab stick. That’s some catch, that Catch-22. The engineer in me says that you need a string tied on to the end of your reach and grab stick (tied to your wrist or chair) so that the next time the stick decides to make a break for freedom you can reel it in from wherever it manages to go. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2022, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simplest-definition-of-a-catch-22/964953/3 "2022-05-23T21:25:21Z")
Is this anything like trying to grab your right elbow with your right hand? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2022, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simplest-definition-of-a-catch-22/964953/4 "2022-05-23T21:41:09Z")
Damned if you do, damned if you don’t. Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Hobson’s choice. Six of one, a half dozen of the other. There are many common ways to say you have no choice, but a Catch-22 is defined by mutually exclusive requirements and not simply equivalence of the result. The ‘reach and grab’ stick borders on a Catch-22 but has only a single impossible requirement. In a Catch-22 you have two requirements, and each requirement negates the other so you can never achieve both of them. ---
**Author:** ![OttoDaFe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ottodafe/32/356_2.png) [@OttoDaFe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OttoDaFe)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2022, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simplest-definition-of-a-catch-22/964953/5 "2022-05-23T21:50:17Z")
Not really relevant to the question at hand, but basically it’s part of an overall concept that boils down to “We can do anything you can’t stop us from doing.” ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2022, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simplest-definition-of-a-catch-22/964953/6 "2022-05-24T00:32:23Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > I need a “Reach and grab” stick to reach and grab my “reach and grab” stick. 🙄 I don’t really think so. Here’s a Catch 22: You need to have work experience to get hired, but you cannot obtain work experience if nobody will hire you. mmm ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2022, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simplest-definition-of-a-catch-22/964953/7 "2022-05-24T01:02:23Z")
There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one’s own 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 would have 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. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2022, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simplest-definition-of-a-catch-22/964953/8 "2022-05-24T07:01:52Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > There was only one catch and that was Catch-22 Why was it called Catch-22? What were Catches 1 through 21? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2022, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simplest-definition-of-a-catch-22/964953/9 "2022-05-24T11:14:33Z")
There was only one catch and that was Catch 22. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2022, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simplest-definition-of-a-catch-22/964953/10 "2022-05-24T13:31:37Z")
All the other catches had loopholes that allowed an escape. Then at number 22 the catch was perfected. There were unofficial catches from 23 up but they weren’t very catchy and were never used. ---
**Author:** ![Kropotkin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kropotkin/32/18045_2.png) [@Kropotkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kropotkin)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2022, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-simplest-definition-of-a-catch-22/964953/11 "2022-05-24T13:33:49Z")
The original short story was titled Catch-18, but when the Leon Uris novel Mila 18 came out the publisher wanted a different title for Heller’s book. The films Ocean’s 11 and Stalag 17 ruled out those numbers, and finally, 22 was settled on.