What you say is true. Nobody expects you to run your computer for the benefit of others or to protect other people's machines.
However, if in your ignorance you chose to forward an infected file which either caused damage to or set off virus-alarms on many of your contact's computers, then you might find your respectability plummet.
Like many things, the choice is yours. I choose not to run antivirus on my Windows PC because I'm infallible. I could never download or distribute malware. Others might see that as arrogance, but I know better.
_________________jonbwfc's law: "In any forum thread someone will, no matter what the subject, mention Firefly."
When you're feeling too silly for x404,
youRwired.net