Comments on: What I Learned From a Complete Jerkbrain http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/ It's about lessons learned... from life! Fri, 21 Nov 2008 05:45:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: WILF festival final entries… | Freaked-Out Fathers http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3868 WILF festival final entries… | Freaked-Out Fathers Sat, 16 Feb 2008 23:15:04 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3868 [...] …a Complete Jerkbrain, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings [...] [...] …a Complete Jerkbrain, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings [...]

]]> By: Results from the What I Learned From People Group Writing Project } Group Writing Projects http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3849 Results from the What I Learned From People Group Writing Project } Group Writing Projects Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:13:03 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3849 [...] a Complete Jerkbrain, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings [...] [...] a Complete Jerkbrain, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings [...]

]]> By: Middle Zone Musings » All Entries: What I Learned from People http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3686 Middle Zone Musings » All Entries: What I Learned from People Mon, 11 Feb 2008 12:02:04 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3686 [...] …a Complete Jerkbrain, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings [...] [...] …a Complete Jerkbrain, by Robert Hruzek at Middle Zone Musings [...]

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3614 Robert Hruzek Sun, 10 Feb 2008 00:28:34 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3614 Thanks, Jeanne. You know, a LOT of situations are much easier to handle when you take the big-picture approach. Hmmm... sounds like a good subject for another post! Thanks! Thanks, Jeanne. You know, a LOT of situations are much easier to handle when you take the big-picture approach. Hmmm… sounds like a good subject for another post! Thanks!

]]> By: Jeanne Dininni http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3612 Jeanne Dininni Sat, 09 Feb 2008 23:14:14 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3612 I agree, Robert. The big picture is what prevents us from getting lost in our own concerns (aka our own little world) and becoming petty. Keep the insights coming! Jeanne I agree, Robert. The big picture is what prevents us from getting lost in our own concerns (aka our own little world) and becoming petty.

Keep the insights coming!
Jeanne

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3545 Robert Hruzek Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:31:16 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3545 Good for you, Heather! Yes, it takes practice to get better at it... which means we need to face these kinds of situations and not avoid them! It's sorta like praying for patience: you won't know you have it until you've <i>already</i> demonstrated it - through a trial! Thanks for dropping by the Zone, Heather! (And thanks for giving the Zone a home on your blogroll! I'm honored!) Good for you, Heather! Yes, it takes practice to get better at it… which means we need to face these kinds of situations and not avoid them! It’s sorta like praying for patience: you won’t know you have it until you’ve already demonstrated it - through a trial!

Thanks for dropping by the Zone, Heather! (And thanks for giving the Zone a home on your blogroll! I’m honored!)

]]> By: heather (errantdreams) http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3540 heather (errantdreams) Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:00:06 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3540 Heh... I've known a lot of people in my life who, while not as bad as this guy, had that 'I cannot possibly be wrong and must prove myself the expert on everything' attitude. I too used to push back (bad habit learned from those people while growing up), which never helped. I'm getting much better at, much like you, stating my case and leaving it at that. I know I'm never going to convince that person I'm right, so what's the point in trying? I've had my say which is all I need; anyone else around has heard my say and seen that I'm not being a jerk like the other person; and it isn't as though saying anything further would do anything other than give me a headache. Still takes effort to remind myself of that sometimes, but I'm getting better at it. ;) Heh… I’ve known a lot of people in my life who, while not as bad as this guy, had that ‘I cannot possibly be wrong and must prove myself the expert on everything’ attitude. I too used to push back (bad habit learned from those people while growing up), which never helped. I’m getting much better at, much like you, stating my case and leaving it at that. I know I’m never going to convince that person I’m right, so what’s the point in trying? I’ve had my say which is all I need; anyone else around has heard my say and seen that I’m not being a jerk like the other person; and it isn’t as though saying anything further would do anything other than give me a headache.

Still takes effort to remind myself of that sometimes, but I’m getting better at it. ;)

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3535 Robert Hruzek Thu, 07 Feb 2008 12:49:35 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3535 "Righteous indignation"... Yep; that's the problem all right. It can sometimes be a real challenge to work through a situation when all you're feeling is that! The only problem is, it's not very conducive to seeing beyond your immediate "self", so to speak. Going for the bigger picture is the solution every time. Thanks for the kind words, Jeanne! :-) “Righteous indignation”… Yep; that’s the problem all right. It can sometimes be a real challenge to work through a situation when all you’re feeling is that!

The only problem is, it’s not very conducive to seeing beyond your immediate “self”, so to speak. Going for the bigger picture is the solution every time.

Thanks for the kind words, Jeanne! :-)

]]> By: Jeanne Dininni http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3519 Jeanne Dininni Thu, 07 Feb 2008 06:58:29 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3519 Those are some great lessons, Robert! Thanks for sharing them! This is an area where it can be really tough to do the right thing, because people like that fill us with "righteous indignation." It's too easy to respond in kind because we feel we have the right to be angry. But it's so true that we are responsible for our own behavior no matter how the other guy treats us. And when we lower ourselves to his level, he wins. Fantastic post! Jeanne Those are some great lessons, Robert! Thanks for sharing them! This is an area where it can be really tough to do the right thing, because people like that fill us with “righteous indignation.” It’s too easy to respond in kind because we feel we have the right to be angry. But it’s so true that we are responsible for our own behavior no matter how the other guy treats us. And when we lower ourselves to his level, he wins.

Fantastic post!
Jeanne

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3515 Robert Hruzek Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:50:05 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3515 I think you're on the right track, Amy, although it wouldn't have worked with this guy. So the best thing was to just be myself. I've found, over the years, that as Shakespeare said, "To thine own self be true" is the best way to be, no matter what. Of course, it ain't always easy! I think you’re on the right track, Amy, although it wouldn’t have worked with this guy. So the best thing was to just be myself.

I’ve found, over the years, that as Shakespeare said, “To thine own self be true” is the best way to be, no matter what. Of course, it ain’t always easy!

]]> By: amypalko http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3514 amypalko Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:27:21 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3514 I'm so impressed that you have managed to turn what sounds like a pretty awful experience into a 'blessing'. There are certain people that I struggle to engage with in pleasant conversation, and I find that avoidance, if at all possible, is the way to go. Although, like you say, sometimes that's just not possible, and that's when I completely over-compensate by going out of my way to be as nice as possible. I try and use kindness to counteract their bad behaviour. Great post, Robert! I’m so impressed that you have managed to turn what sounds like a pretty awful experience into a ‘blessing’. There are certain people that I struggle to engage with in pleasant conversation, and I find that avoidance, if at all possible, is the way to go. Although, like you say, sometimes that’s just not possible, and that’s when I completely over-compensate by going out of my way to be as nice as possible. I try and use kindness to counteract their bad behaviour. Great post, Robert!

]]> By: Robert Hruzek http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3507 Robert Hruzek Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:06:02 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3507 Thanks, Joanna. Proof positive you can learn something valuable from literally <i>anybody!</i> Thanks, Joanna. Proof positive you can learn something valuable from literally anybody!

]]> By: Joanna Young http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3504 Joanna Young Wed, 06 Feb 2008 16:46:20 +0000 http://middlezonemusings.com/what-i-learned-from-jerkbrain/#comment-3504 Great story Robert - and commendable restraint! Joanna Great story Robert - and commendable restraint!

Joanna

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