I notice there are two options. Contact and friend. What is the difference between the two if any?
And so far the only advantage of adding someone as a friend is that they can view a private blog. Or are there more?
Re: Difference between a contact and a friend?
Yes the only advantage so far is that you can share private blogs.
I am not sure what is the diff between contacts and friends. Yes that is how dumb I am about the intricacies of social networking.
Re: Difference between a contact and a friend?
Contact is usually just a person you've met and want to have their "digits" so to speak. You can take it as an acronym for acquaintence.
A Friend has some permissions on your blog and maybe other lists or circles that you might have specified more access to, for you items.
A friend in need is a friend indeed!
Re: Difference between a contact and a friend?
Hmm Tofibaba, I’m pretty sure contacts have access to one’s private blogs as well. I have one person in my contacts list who isn’t on my friends list but we can still view each other’s blogs just fine. If you were to remove me from your friends list but keep me in the contacts list, no one going through your friends list will know that I am acquainted with you as the contacts list is not visible to anyone but the users themselves. So that’s pretty much the only difference I can think of. 
Unless I have it all wrong.
Re: Difference between a contact and a friend?
Yep, thats what it is…or that’s atleast my understanding of it as well. There is no difference between the two in terms of privacy.