Sean,
Dont be hard on yourself, everyone starts somewhere.
The fact that you have taken the trouble to do some research and join the forum shows that you are taking a sensible approach. As someone who started from scratch myself not so long ago, I 'd definitely echo the advice to join the club if you can. There is a huge amount of knowledge on fishing, fun and safety that will be given readily.
And you'll catch fish as a result - I guarantee it
Steve