Two words - invisible stigma
i.e., A token of infamy, disgrace, or reproach
Alternate example A: Loss of honor, respect, or reputation; shame.
Alternate example B: To bring shame upon; disgrace.
Alternate example C: The condition of being infamous.
Lilith
While board members openly converse about experiences within these electronic walls it's highly unlikely this conversation would ever be a topic amongst friends over a beer at the local watering hole, or elsewhere for that matter. The result would not be a "high five" more likely the result would be stigmatic as in shame, loss of honor, or reputation within that set of acquaintances. Unless all your friends are 14-17 years old boys, who would get off on the information and fantasize till the cows come home, you would have a problem in how people now perceive you in many social situations. But not everyone does this; there are some who honestly care, and others don't give a fuck about what you do with your life.
People generally are affected by stigma in different ways. Think for a moment that you were not in this business.
Now, let's say you knew the person sitting next to you eating their lunch spent most of their free time cruising the streets looking for teen girls to score blow-jobs, or frequented local MP's gaining sexual favors for cash ... your treatment of that person in the real world (even today) would be very different and likely not altogether normal (unacceptable). Because for whatever reason, in the back of your mind, what they are doing now would not be considered normal behavior within your class, your upbringing, or moral values.
Just as you might hide the knowledge of what you do for a living from friends, relatives etc, etc., for fear of the reprisals that information could cause. The guys who come to visit you need that same privacy. Privacy in some peoples lives is very, very important.
If privacy and discretion was never assured then some people's lives would and very likely could be ruined ... not so much from the outside, but from within that individual affecting how they feel about themselves when they become aware that things in their life or lifestyle, which otherwise is kept secret, suddenly sees the light of day.
Discretion is very important to some people, including me.
Many people pretend to be "cock of the walk" but deep down inside, no matter what they say ... they're scared shitless it's human nature.
A better question would have been ... why do bald guys wear hats?