It works on a person to person basis. My best friends and my mum know that I spend a lot of time on here, they know that I met and stayed with a bunch of friends from here while in USA, and they know that I met my girlfriend on here. My father and everyone else does not know these things however. I dunno if it's embarrassment, maybe a little, but mostly it's just that there's no reason to tell anyone that I'm not close to about it. As far as my Dad is concerned... he's just old school I guess, and I don't think he can fathom the idea of meeting a really close friend or girlfriend online. Mostly it's just easier to keep them separate.