The paradox of the brilliant jerk

Once, in probably about late 2010, I was referred to by a co-worker as a "brilliant jerk." (The actual word may have been asshole.) Let's break this down for a second: I'm not brilliant, so already we're off to a bad start here from a logistical and linguistic standpoint. I can be a jerk -- and definitely can be an asshole -- although I try not to do th…