You sure as hell can't run for president... but I think most men can respect what we do in this age...
But let's say you're trying to live a more "respectable" life... anyone that can't forgive your past is not worth your time... but I'd warn you that this biz is like a vortex... especially when you are working on the PC all day -- your social interactions are affected...
I can't explain it entirely but you communicate with people on a different wavelength after being in this shit as long as I have... staring at the screen -- you have a different phenomenological relationship with people based on the techology... but this is the future... evolution -- whatever. Don't look back -- imagine the future.
I can't even imagine working in an office anymore... dealing with people face-to-face? LOL I have a hard enough time responding to ICQ's...
I'm pushing ahead into new areas but I've got a long way to go in terms of biz connections on this new areas... I have no regrets -- but it's easy to forget there's a whole world out there to explore after you get stuck in a pattern.