It's been a process. Bob Chill said last year that gaining the knowledge and becoming a better poster can be a "long, bruising" path--and he's right! He said when he was younger (probably my age or less) he kinda got torn apart on here and the easternwx days. (I'm really curious to see a less seasoned Chill gettin' it handed to him--hard to imagine, lol)
Now I'm not saying I'll be as good a he is, but...it does go to show that sometimes it's experience, other times intentional learning (which I need to do with reading those vort maps), and participation in the discussion (and risking looking at something wrong and learning the right way!)