I completely agree on Jim being kind of a dick for season 3 and a lot of his choices not really seeming to make sense with what we know about the characters. But I also kind of really think that for the longest time Jim told himself that if he just built up the nerve to tell Pam he loved her, that she would instantly accept him. Which in itself is kind of conceited and ridiculous. But still, I think after that happened he had no idea what to do with himself, almost as though he had planned his entire future without applying any of the actual facts about his life.

Even though season 3 made me kind of dislike Jim, I feel his response was very real. We may all want Jim to be the perfect boyfriend, but I think we probably would prefer him to be real. Meaning, sometimes a huge douche.