I agree with Vydarr, join an active linkshell as soon as possible... honestly I would suggest it as soon as you get into the game.

This game is not new player friendly at all (I mean it gives you next to no direction at all), so having a linkshell with active higher level people will be able to help you out a ton.

The game is also multitude more fun with groups which until the mindset of the whole community changes (good luck on that) linkshells will be the only way to really do this. You get 8 battle and 8 craft leves every 36hrs, that is about 2-3hrs of gameplay a reset solo, or you can group up and have about 6hrs of content from Battle leves alone and another 1-2 hrs from crafting leves, every 36hrs. (note the whole time in a group you are getting about 2 fold the sp you would solo)

Have to remember unlike most mmos, this is a group focused game from level 1 to endgame. You mention WoW so I caution you do not play it like WoW, soloing quest is the worst way to level and if you read the post of many people on the forums this is a major source of the rage you are seeing. Solo is doable but you are at a massive disadvantage in terms of leveling speed and what you can accomplish by soloing everything.

A few pointers I will give you that will make your life easier starting off

1) Put points into Vitality first... this will boost your hp significantly. (if you are a mage I would toss some into mnd after that)
2) Level multiple classes. A mage class at 4 gives you cure, this will make it twice as easy to accomplish things and cut down time almost in half. Remember classes are not jobs, Jobs are what you make out of all the class ability you learn. Meaning the true strength of the armory system is making something with bits and pieces from everything, the more you level the stronger you become.
3) stand still to regen hp/mp faster
4) As posted in my paragraphs before get a linkshell, and start partying. Not only on leves but in normal grind groups as well. (90% of the game is character development (leveling) so making this as fun as possible should be the goal, it is not that fun solo after level 20)
5) Mess around with gathering and crafting, some hate it and some love it... It is very involved so I would check up on some guides before messing with it. It is vastly different then WoW.
6) Use a voice chat program, talk to people have fun with ppl. no one talks in shout and say much just like in XI, all talk is inside linkshell and on ventrillo or other chat like programs. (if your linkshell does not have 1, I would suggest talking them into getting 1)