If you're trying to give yourself an education in Information Technology.....

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Where do you start?

I've been just trying to wing it for a while, but I usually just get flamed on IRC's or get responses like "lurkmoar".

So where do you start.  I was thinking of picking up some books.

Where do you begin learning, so that in the future you can build layers as your education progresses?

[Mulreay]

You can start here.. there are a many people with lot's of knowledge. And generally we don't rib the newbies 
Welcome to Computer hope 

[JJ 3000]

Watch these videos
http://www.professormesser.com/2008/03/15/professor-messers-free-comptia-a-certification-training-course/
It should be a good start.

[Ugarte]

I 2nd the professor messer videos.  I first found the link to them on these boards, watched (most of) them, and found them to be very helpful.  I also had a large picture file that had all sorts of hardware slots/connections spliced together with their name by each one, each picture very up-close and detailed (the picture file was about 50mb!).  Can't seem to find it at the moment... hmm, hope I didn't lose it.  I think I got that either on these boards or Rage3d.

[lectrocrew]

I 2nd the professor messer videos.  I first found the link to them on these boards, watched (most of) them, and found them to be very helpful. 

I 3rd 

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Much obliged.

Edit:  Professor Messer does a really good job with this stuff.