Yes, as a response/answer, it does make sense. I was referring to people who suddenly begin a conversation or new subject with it.
Gotcha. That is weird.
In that case, the only appropriate response for you is, “I actually couldn’t care less!”
But I suppose that would be rude. Maybe just say it under your breath, then. 
Yes, the OED says that its original meaning was “an inept or pathetic person; a fool.” I guess that’s the sense used in the title of the Steve Martin film The Jerk, which otherwise never made sense to me, since Navin is not rude nor a bully.
Since you looked, does it mention when the meaning shift occurred? Or whether the “inept fool” meaning is still current?
Point being was that 20 years ago, 50, or 250?
I think I recall my Dad using terms like “jerky kid” to describe the typical 8-15yo boy behavior of being silly and thoughtless and just doing dumb stuff without thinking. Despite the bad consequences that were completely foreseeable to any adult. His point wasn’t that the kid(s) were being mean or malicious. Just that they weren’t planning; they were just doing. Like a fool might. A 3yo’s largely absent mind in a 12yo body can do a lot of damage.
The OED lists both meanings under one heading, and doesn’t discuss them separately. Based on their citations, there was overlap during the 20th century; for example, they have a 1958 citation that clearly seems to use the later meaning (“If..the sponsors get eight letters saying that their comedian is an idiot, or a foul-mouthed jerk, they’re terrified.”), while a 1968 citation has the earlier meaning (“Let’s steal a car… It’s a beaut and some jerk’s left the keys in it.”)
The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang likewise bundles both meanings into one heading: “a contemptible fool; dolt; (broadly) an offensive or worthless person”. They provide a wider array of citations that shows the later meaning already in use by 1938: “It’s easy enough to go around being a jerk if your father happens to be President of the United States.” OTOH, there’s an apparent use of the earlier meaning as late as 1994 (from Friends): “The jerk missed his flight.”
Just use “literally” instead of “actually” then everyone will know what you mean! 
Greek salads have beets?
Mad Magazine’s Dave Berg used the earlier meaning in a “Lighter Side” comic about a passport photographer c. 1997 (“On the count of three…look like a jerk!”).
I’ve re-read some of the Goosebumps books because I have a young nephew now. They were written in the '90s, and characters sometimes use “jerk” in the “wimp” or “fool” sense. I think I also recall Marie on Everybody Loves Raymond saying it once - she referred to herself as a “jerk” because she did something when Frank rudely told her to.
If I’ve heard this advice once, I’ve heard it literally ten million times.
Don’t they? At least, I think some type of Greek salad does. My wife makes what she calls a Greek salad, and it’s pretty much beets, lettuce, onion and feta cheese with Greek dressing out of a bottle. With an extra helping of beets.
oooo yikes
beets have been mentioned, I see.
I use “apparently” too much.
In a Greek Beet Salad aka Pantzarosalata. Not in the usual one with sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, green bell pepper, red onion, olives, and feta cheese.
One would expect beets to be an ingredient in a beet salad. In the US one would not normally call any beet salad a Greek Salad even if it was a Greek salad. That’s because a Greek Salad as it is commonly known in the US doesn’t have beets in it. (Although maybe that’s a “No True Scotsman” kinda thing though?)
ETA: It’s a little like calling Vermont White Cheddar cheese “American Cheese”.