My beard is a magnetic collector of food bits - so I know that social stress when I discover that I have ravioli sauce in my beard
I always assumed that on a digital social network, we were all interacting "digitally". But I have come to see that (at the "top" at least), there is more to the story. These guys are flying to Kuala Lampur to drink beers with each other.
Oh crap, now I gotta drink beer too? And fly on a plane? I like either of those things less than feeling awkward in a social setting.
On the topic of beards, I judge the quality of a food place by the volume of napkins they give me. If they don't give me more than a non-bearded customer, they're not getting me to come back again. Call it petty, but cater to your customer's needs.
My needs are more napkins than the smooth-skins!