The Microsoft Word format is an essential component of Microsoft's monopoly. The practice of exchanging documents in Word format forces everyone to have a copy of Microsoft Word, or else frustrating compatibility problems occur. By keeping the Word format secret, Microsoft has ensured that nobody can write fully compatible software, and therefore Microsoft can have no real competition.

By sending or accepting documents in Word format you are reinforcing the Microsoft monopoly. This makes Microsoft richer and more powerful while making other software companies weaker, poorer, and usually makes them go out of business. The fact that something is an "accepted standard" does not justify it. Slavery was once an accepted standard in the US. A man needs to think for himself about his own actions and their consequences. The easiest thing is not always the right thing.

Since I value the ideals of opportunity and freedom, I do not send or receive documents in Word format. Everyone is free to choose the software they use on their computer, but it becomes a problem when their choices force other people to use the same software. For this reason, I generally exchange documents in either HTML, PDF, TEX, or plain ASCII. If there is a form that needs to be filled in by other people, this can be set up very easily as an online form that the person visits, fills in, and submits. All of these formats are openly documented and do not have the negative social and economic consequences of using monopoly formats. -kurt