Do what makes you happy. Aside of the general rules, theres no "real" way to do ATRL. You don't need to be friends with anyone you don't want to and you definitley don't have to join any 'in groups.'
Don't feel obligated to like someone because they stan the same artist as you.
Avoid browsing/quoting the base thread of an artist you don't like. It's not a good look to drag people mid-conversation in their own base - save that for SYG.
Don't get too involved with the website if you don't want it being a big part of your life. I'm thankfully able to log out during the school year and only come on when I don't have work, but for some people, this site means
way too much and it ends up affecting them negatively.