the nebbish in Jewish culture

Racialicious has a post on Jewish stereotypes in the media, which has got me thinking about how certain characteristics and archetypes are viewed in and outside of Jewish culture. It's my impression that a lot of qualities seen as negative by others are not seen in the same way within Jewish culture(s). An appreciation of intellectualism and a Talmudic tradition of positioning oneself between myriad cited sources come with the recognition that intellectuals often have weaknesses in other areas. A real mensch, of course, has all the social graces of a Cary Grant, but a little Woody Allen can be endearing.