Hi! So I'm new to this forum and new to the world of bitcoin and cryptocurrency. I guess I should post at Beginners board but this kinda have something to do with the forum so I hope I'm in the right place. The truth is I don't know anything much about bitcoin yet. I've heard about it from a few friends who kept talking about it whenever we meet and I felt out of place, so I checked it out, read some things, and decided to ultimately join. I know they are here, I'm just not sure yet what handle they use. Anyway, I posted in this board because I have some questions that hopefully someone can help me out. I've read the "Unofficial list of (official) Bitcointalk.org rules, guidelines, FAQ" but honestly I still have some questions. One thing I realized is that bitcoin and cryptocurrency are very difficult to understand, so my question is: are merits and trust important? what exactly are they and how do you gain it? Does it have anything to do with bitcoin directly?

I would also appreciate if anyone can point me in the right direction about learning about bitcoin and cryptocurrency. Preferably something that is easy to understand. I know I can easily search for it but the truth is it is overwhelming and I don't know where and how to start. Hopefully someone will help me. Thanks guys!