When you first join Minti, you will receive some friend requests, these will show as an icon near the top of your homepage.  The first ones you are most likely to receive would be from:
rachelcook co-founder of Minti.
claycook co-founder and CEO of

Minti
matthew co-founder of Minti
angieh – tech help
These 4 members are the main contacts for any administration queries or assistance that you may need.  It is a good idea to familiarise yourself with the details on their home pages, and of course their advice.  Another person you are likely to receive a request from soon after joining is Izzy.

Receiving A Friend Request
The friend request will show near the top of your homepage, with the options to accept or decline beneath it.  You will also receive an email in your inbox with a note from that person, sometimes it is just the standard friend request, or the person may have written a personal note.  If you are already familiar with the person, you may feel comfortable accepting the request straight away, however it pays to check them out more closely before deciding.

 

People In Your Friend’s List
If you accept the person as a friend, they will join your friend’s list, and be able to see into your lounge, which is where you can post private blogs, that the general public and other Minti members can’t view.  The people on your friend’s list will also be able to post messages and graphics in your lounge, and generally be ‘friendly’.  It is really nice to read the messages and look at the graphics in your lounge when you first log in for the day.  You will also have access to your friend’s lounge to do the same thing.
 

Learning More About Minti Member’s
You can either view the persons profile by clicking on the link in your email, or the member’s avatar on the request on your homepage.  When you get that person’s homepage, you will see a menu on the left hand side of the page, it contains the following list: Advice; Blog; Photos; Friends; Tag cloud; Awards; Statistics; Groups; Activity; Comments. These are all links that will take you to directly to this information in regard to the member.  This information will help you to form an opinion about the person, and you can decide whether to accept or decline their request.

 
Friend’s On Your Homepage List
There is room for the avatars with usernames beneath them for the first 8 friends in your down right hand side of your homepage page. It is a good idea to keep the friends whose homepages you visit the most, on this list, for ease and convenience.

 
Managing Your Friend’s List
Your friend’s will be listed 36 to a page; their avatar will have the option to change position, and the option to delete beneath them.  This will allow you to change the position of your friends to any order of your choice, and delete anyone you no longer wish to have on your friend’s list.

 
Unsure What To Do?
If you are undecided, you can leave the request indefinitely, it will stay on your homepage, however only you will be able to view it.  It will remain like that until you decide whether to accept or decline the request, or the sender may delete the request if you don’t respond.

 
Decline Friend Request
There is no pressure on you to accept any friend’s request, if, for any reason you feel uncomfortable adding a person to your list, then don’t.  You do not have to respond in anyway, though you can reply to the request email if you choose.  You may also change your mind and send a request to that person in the future.

 
Sending A Friend Request
You can look someone up in the member’s list, or click on their avatar, or username on any post they have made.  This will take you straight to their homepage.  Their avatar is listed on the left hand side, beneath that is usually their age, then country, and the link, ‘be my friend’.  You can click this link to put the friend request in process, or you can use the 'send me a message' link below to send them a personal email ‘Minti mail’ and get to know the person better.
 

It is entirely up to you, who you choose and accept on your friend’s list, and how you manage it.  I highly recommend that you read this advice, Staying Safe On Minti – edited and updated by DarkenedAngel,  Avoiding Pitfalls in Online Community Participation  by injenuity and Keeping Safe on the Internet by angieh.  These advice articles contain excellent information for all participants in online communities, about how to conduct yourself in a friendly; yet safe manner.