I am confused about how to join this community.  Here's what I've done so far:

1) I have a problem.

2) I came here for help

3) When I went to ask the question, the instructions told me to thoroughly search the existing topics before posting (to avoid duplicate questions).

4) I did so, and found another poster who has EXACTLY the same problem I do.

5) So I tried to comment, in to contribute what I knew about the problem to the question.  

6) The site would not let me comment until I have 20 reputation, as a new member I only have 1.

7) I couldn't participate by commenting, but the site let me edit the question directly, so I added an edit (marked [Edit]) with what I had found related to the problem.

8) The edit was rejected because it makes no sense as an edit (which is true) and it really **should** have been comment.  So the edit was deleted.

9) But I can't comment, until I have 20 reputation.  So, I search for help.

10) I find the meta group (which seems to be a group ABOUT server fault).  Essentially, this "felt" like customer service.  Thinking I had found the right place, I tried to post a question about how to participate - but I am required to have 5 reputation points before I can do this.

So I am posting this question here on the main forum, because I can't find anywhere else to contribute.

At this point in the process, my actual question is like 3 or 4 levels down in the stack - and I'm simply trying to figure out how to participate in this community.  This is an earnest question - though, in my experience, it will likely have the opposite effect than the desired one, and I will instead earn some down votes... 

As I am literally out of ideas as to how to join the community - I am at this point open to suggestions.  As a new member, with no reputation in this community, where am I allowed to participate?

If I contribute a new question - it will be obviously duplicate of an existing question, but I'm not allowed (yet) to participate in the existing question.

Genuinely confused.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.