IRC, usenet, "view source", local DIY computer fairs (which were quite a big scene in the UK in the middle nineties) and Microsoft developer books were my route

IRC, usenet, "view source", local DIY computer fairs (which were quite a big scene in the UK in the middle nineties) and Microsoft developer books were my route in. ISPs also used to give you free website hosting and once I'd learnt enough playing with that, I remember doing a website for a family friend's business and ordering my first ever .com domain (from Network Solutions iirc) for something silly like $70 via fax :)