caffeinecynic

He is not alone.

I agree with Robert pretty much completely on one huge fact:

This case cost Michelle a lot. Financially, emotionally, mentally, and in time. It was, and is, Michelle's choice to make and I am very glad that she won the case. However, it does bode the question of, "Was it worth it?" From the single person perspective, she may never see the money she won; a big portion, if not all, will likely go to legal fees. She certainly will never see the lizard she wanted, which was what she really wanted all along.

It sounds like to Michelle, proving a point that she was not to be bullied was worth it to her. And that is ok - that is what matters. That is a cause worth fighting for to her, and I absolutely respect that she did so.

However, not everyone views it the same way. As Robert explained, she spent 2.5 years fighting this battle, and in the beginning at least, she spent an enormous amount of time arguing and defending herself here on Fauna. I can't imagine the PMs and harassment that she got on Facebook (which is 100% not okay, and I am very sorry it happened - I know it did).

There comes a time when you have to ask yourself, "Is this worth the energy that I am putting forth?"

No one was telling Michelle to give up. Robert told Michelle to assess her priorities and decide if she really wanted to do this. Frankly, he told her what no one else here would: that it was okay to cut her losses and end it, if she wanted to, because it was obviously costing her a lot to continue this battle. Everyone is so quick to tell someone to keep fighting, but not a single person on this board had to deal with what she dealt with in this case (and I'd wager most of the commenters haven't been in her exact position over a reptile, either).

For me, I wouldn't have wanted to keep it going, not over a lizard; I wouldn't have appreciated putting up with what I know Michelle had to deal with just on Fauna let alone elsewhere, plus the legal fees and time. That doesn't mean I think the bad guy should win. It means past a certain point, I personally draw the line on how much of myself, my time, my energy, my life, I am willing to give to someone who has wronged me. This case was definitely over that line (for me).

I am glad Michelle won. I am very happy that David "took down Goliath." And it seems like Michelle did what was right for her, which is all anyone should ever expect.

But arguing that someone should do something "for principle" is a lot easier when you're not the one experiencing it, and almost everyone on this thread kept telling Michelle to fight - Robert took the stance of reminding her that she has nothing to prove to anyone here on Fauna, and that at the end of the day, her health, happiness and personal life is what should be paramount, not this fight.