My best advice is to try and go through this, even the best players were once noobies. Even they were constantly bursted by PKers (a common abreviation meaning player killer), they too were constantly robbed, but then again, they got through it, and they became "respectful", "powerful", and somesuch shit about false power.
And probably my best advice is to try and stay out of gang rivalries, they'll just suck you into and inevitable vortex of either great shame or even greater fame. It's too much of a risk for something that will mold your popularity.
Anyway, if you ever go to NCR, call me on radio freq. 2806, i have some money and equipment to help you out, my account name is Aradesh.