HI Tone.
Don't be discouraged, but knowing your audience is necessary to fit into/get along with even a confrontational forum like this one.
A great percentage of us are "seasoned veterans" (we don't demand bowing and scraping, but we don't have time for scat talking newbies either), and everyone else deserves a modicum of respect. The "dork" thing was not the best first step...but press on, it's a "big tent", room for lots of folks.