I would like to learn Linux, more specifically, I would like to get my hands rather dirty. I want to experiment, I want to dig, I want to create, etc. I'm not really looking to replace Windows as much as I'm just looking to enjoy myself.

So pretty much, I need a distro that isn't too easy to get into but also with a rather large community. I have tried Ubuntu once but it seemed a little too... windows-esque. Maybe it was the heavy use of GUI, I'm not too sure. I was thinking Fedora but not too much is out there about F7.

Go for gentoo. Good sized community, great documentation, more opportunities than most for tweaking. It sounds like just what you want.

Slackware is the oldest Linux distro, and the most standard.

LinuxQuestions.org is the largest Linux help site in the world;
the Slackware forum is our largest -- more than double the threads
of the next in line.

I'll second the recommendation for Slackware. I used Red Hat and SuSe for several years before trying Slackware, and when I did move to Slackware, I learned more about Linux in a couple of months than I did up to that point with the others.

I'll "third" the Slackware recommendation.

If you're someone who enjoys messing around with your system, you'll love it.

All the configuration files are commented to the point where it is unnecessary to read the documentation for many things.

Everything has sane default settings.

Things work as their developers intended.

It has possibly the best build environment of any distro around - because you get to use the very same environment it was built with.

Whatever you choose, remember to have fun with it!

How about a recommendation from someone who DOESN'T use Slackware OR Gentoo?

Go for Slackware or Gentoo...

Well guys, so far from what I understand, you all have some grudge against Slackware and hate it. :P

Alright, I'll definitely look into Gentoo and Slackware. Appreciate the responses rather fast actually. This community rocks.

Actually, I don't use gentoo. I don't want to be thrown into a distro, so I stick with Debian and Ubuntu. And even though I am the one who originally suggested gentoo, I'll say you can't go wrong with Slackware either. Slackware is like the incredibly basic, standard Linux distro. Virtually everything you learn on Slackware will apply on other distros. Gentoo, on the other hand, is not afraid to be... unique. Something you learn in gentoo will probably apply elsewhere. Probably.

I'll throw in a recommendation for Arch since it hasn't been mentioned yet. It's got a very similar feel to Slackware in my opinion, but has a few more tools available that make getting everything up and working, but still requires you to know what's going on in your system. Arch is also tries to keep pretty bleeding edge when it comes to updates, while slackware seems to have more of a "if it isn't broke don't fix it" mentality.

Since you also mentioned interest in the community, Arch is pretty active over on its own forum as well as having a decent wiki

I would recommend a base Debian install, if I thought he was looking for that...but I don't think that someone that wants to be "thrown into a distro" is exactly wanting debian packages that install for him...and something that take more time to set up. I wouldn't go to Slack or Gentoo if you paid me, but thats my personal preference.

Well yeah I want to be "thrown into one" but there is a difference between being thrown into a snake pit with a spear and being thrown into a snake pit with nothing at all. Everybody still needs their hand held once in a while.

In that case, I highly recommend Debian. Its more "complex" than many, but not to "build it yourself" like Slack or Gentoo. If you really want to be submerged in Linux, go LFS, but there is no "hand holding" in that.

Slackware's not that much more difficult to install than Debian, but might need more configuration post-install. From what I've read (installation instructions on their websites), Arch and Gentoo are a few rungs up the difficulty ladder from Debian and Slack. The only thing to do is try them, different distros suit different people, it's all down to personal taste really.

My experience with Slackware (limited) and Arch has been that Slackware is easier to get a base system working but is more work to install things that aren't included on the discs (I've had to compile most of them) while Arch gives a minimal system after the base install, but is very flexible to build up the system you want on top of that base. The install itself is pretty straight forward just take a look at the install guide first. After having done a couple installs I can do a base install in about 20 minutes, and a few hours later have everything else working with more of the time just waiting to download packages than much else.

I would probably try slackware, if its a little too far off the deep end then might move to arch or debian. I actually like all the distro's mentioned but I prefer to be in control of whats installed on my system as well as having a high degree of flexibility and versatility.

All the distro's here recommended have a large support base and most have good luck with configuration and stability with some exceptions ( usually on a per system configuration basis). Example Debian does not at all like my system, but can be made to work and runs rock stable with a great deal of effort, slackware and gentoo install and run stable with the basic install. You will find that your results may vary, I have a system downstairs that everything installs and runs flawlessly on so best advice I can give is try Slackware (Because I am biased, its my personal favorite ).

I started learning linux on slackware and without any real difficulty and had it up and stable in a day or two so its not as bad as most make out. It has great support and is lightening fast. You will be in charge of what you want on your system (or can be) or you can install the package manager to take care of things for you. If you prefer a distro with a good package manager then might look at the other distro's recommended here and they all also have large support groups that are usually willing to help.

In all honesty clear some space on your hard drive and try them out. I have tried loooooooots of distro's but keep coming back to slackware, but some people do require package managers and special GUI menu's, auto updates, varying choces in GUI (kde,gnome,xfce and ...). There are exceptions in everything: even ubuntu, GUI handholding friendly, allows for headless installation and can be custom built to a degree with the package manager and gentoo, being at the other end of that spectrum where everything is customized your way, but installation can also be done from the GUI installer, or from a command line base system.

So try a few out, decide what you like best, GUI?, necessity of a package manager?, runs well on your system?, level of customization options wanted?, learning curve willing?. If you find the distro that most closely suits what YOU want, you will be the happiest with your system in the long run. Good Luck and Welcome to linux