I had my nails quite long in work until late december, when I ended breaking my right thumb-nail , and it was ****ING AGONY !!!, and couldnt use my thumb properly for a week because of the exposed area.
So i keep them short now.
But when i did have them long, I did'nt really think of what people thought, Mabye if i was more self consious about it, I wouldnt have had them long, but who knows.