Well, when I first started I didn't know anything because it wasn't easy to get ahold of, since every time I asked I got flamed, heheh
I started off ganking HTML and Java from chat rooms and websites, fiddling with it, etc...eventually found ways to annoy the hell out of the poor chatters with my new knowledge, then found ways to mess w/ the actual server...no, it wasn't '3l337', no it wasn't cool. It was being a script-kiddy. I begged everyone I found who seemed to know more then me for anything they'd give me...eventually I found some good d/l sites and read a bunch of tuts and FAQs that opened my eyes...and I started trying to find ways to fiddle with my new-found hobby of playing w/ security without pissing people off...it was more challenging, and ultimately I learned more from it...
-Grim