Catch-22s
No-win situation traps
Catch-22s are situations where contradictory rules or conditions make a desired outcome impossible—you can't get A without B, but you can't get B without A.
From Joseph Heller's 1961 novel, where a pilot could be grounded for insanity, but requesting to be grounded proved he was sane.
The job requires experience, but you can't get experience without a job—it's one of those Catch-22s.
Mockery exposing vice
- absurdismPhilosophy embracing existence's irrationality
- World War IISecond global military conflict
- bombardierPlane's payload releaser
- dark humorComedy about taboo subjects
Bureaucratic obstacles to action
- regulationsEnforced rules and standards
- loopholesExploitable ambiguities in rules
- paperworkAdministrative written tasks
- officialdomCollective administrative authorities
fine print · technicalities · policies · procedures · permits · approvals · eligibility requirements
Difficult choices between alternatives
- no-win situationsCircumstances guaranteeing failure
- double bindsInescapable contradictory demands
- contradictionsLogically incompatible assertions
- impossibilitiesThings that cannot exist
circular reasoning · vicious circles · impasses · deadlocks · conundrums · quandaries · predicaments · stalemates
satire
Mockery exposing vice
- absurdismPhilosophy embracing existence's irrationality
- World War IISecond global military conflict
- bombardierPlane's payload releaser
red tape
Bureaucratic obstacles to action
- regulationsEnforced rules and standards
- loopholesExploitable ambiguities in rules
- paperworkAdministrative written tasks
officialdom · fine print · technicalities · policies · procedures · permits · approvals · eligibility requirements
dilemmas
Difficult choices between alternatives
- no-win situationsCircumstances guaranteeing failure
- double bindsInescapable contradictory demands
- contradictionsLogically incompatible assertions
impossibilities · circular reasoning · vicious circles · impasses · deadlocks · conundrums · quandaries · predicaments · stalemates · absurdities
Catch-22sno-brainers
Effortlessly obvious decisions
slam dunks · cakewalks · gimmes · ways out · walkovers
Catch-22sopen doors
Unblocked entrances
ways out · escape routes · flexibility · latitude · elbow room
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