>> "I like it. It means people know how much others are earning."

That might seem fine if you are earning a decent salary but if you are working a shitty job to make ends meet it can be embarrassing. It's the main reason people find it rude to discuss each others salaries.

That's the whole point. It means people are more acutely aware of the inequality of income in society.

People are trained to find itnrue so that high earners don't feel uncomfortable being at the top of inequality.