So everyone, let me set up my question a little. Back in high school, couple of years ago. I was very big into programming, they had classes but I was always ahead of the class because of its slow paced teaching style and general noobiness, not only of the class, but of the teacher. Back in those days, I was interested in every thing from writing little programs to make my day better, but also more hackign type stuff, like how to hack and all that crapola. So cause of all this, I know alot of web stuff: (X)HTML, CSS, JS, all that crapola. As well as knowing and haveing about 2 years experience writing general programs in VB, C++, and Java.
Anyways, after watching some Hak5, I feel this inspiration to get back into programming hardcore (kinda fell away into a more general advanced user type of feel going on, hope that makes sense). Also, I am especially interested in the darker ways of it all, but everywhere I read they suggest using a language I don't know, which is fine, I'll learn. But the actual content, and the concepts of everything they show is overwhelmingly complex for me. I don't know if I'm stupid or if there is some type of steep ass learning curve that I just can't get past.
So what I am looking for, if you all could be so kind is: Some general information, your past experiences, where to go for a kind of buffer between where my skillset is and how to get into that higher stuff that is above me. And, I don't mean for hacking stuff, I mean that could be cool and all, but i really just want to program big things, and I feel that concepts of doing things like this, is above me right now.
I don't know, I hope this isn't stupid, and would welcome all input. kthxbye