I really don't get why I would keep it a secret. It's led to me deciding to pursue something in the writing field be it a journalist or whatever. My family knows that I roleplay online. I mean, it's not really a big secret to them that I'm very creative as they have all seen my poetry over the years. As far as my friends knowing, some of my closest friends are my frequent collaborators in Rping. Even my RL friends — as few that I have — are well-aware that I do online roleplaying and they frequently ask me about it. 

So yeah they know and no, I don't keep it a secret.