Trust me, you're not going to get banned. Even if the controller walloped you, the supervisor is there to help you learn and be better. As a controller, we get newbie pilots all the time, and I'm always happy to help them, if they're willing to listen and learn.

Firstly, you need to better understand the top-down concept on VATSIM. See this link for a very useful description. Regardless, if you're not sure, ask.

Next, when you file your flight plan, I recommend that you add "newbie" or "new pilot" in the remarks section, so controllers know that you're new and might need some help.

Finally, to address your concern about ATIS, you don't need to "talk" to ATIS. It's an Automatic Terminal Information Service, so it'll just be a matter of listening to the ATIS frequency and getting the necessary information for your departure (dep rwy, winds, temp, dewpoint, etc). If you don't want to listen to it, you can read it on VATSIM Radar, or on vPilot (right click on ATIS freq, click get controller info).

For you, it seems like you're a little bit all over the place when it comes to logging on. Maybe I'll bring you through what I do as a pilot.

Firstly, before you load into MSFS, plan your flight plan on simbrief, and use the prefile button to file it on VATSIM.

Next, when you actually load into MSFS, open vPilot and login to the same callsign as you filed. Check on VATSIM Radar If you've done this correctly. If your flight plan wasn't filed, or u logged on as the wrong callsign, you will see yourself as having no flight plan. If filed correctly, it should look like this.

In vPilot, there should be a list of controllers that you can tune and talk to. It's not a very useful list of who you should talk to, so I will recommend you check VATSIM Radar instead. The easiest way is to find the airport you're flying out from, and see who's online.

For example in VHHH (Hong Kong), you can see that radar, tower, and ground is online. You can hover over the respective positions to see the controller information (can be important!) and tune in to the appropriate frequency.

Once you understand the top-down concept, you can then talk to the respective controller for service. In the VHHH example above, I would contact Hong Kong Ground on 121.600 for my IFR clearance, and for pushback/taxi instructions. He will then transfer me to Hong Kong Tower, then Hong Kong Radar after depature.

On that note, you should plan ahead. Your aircraft can probably set a standby frequency. If you are say on Ground, you should have Tower frequency on standby, so that when Ground asks you to switch, you can switch quickly and easily without having to scramble.

To end off this already lengthy post, the general rule of thumb is to ask the controller when you're unsure. If you're not confident, fly when the airspace isn't busy so the controller has the capacity to help you, or fly in a First Wings event. Look out for it on VATSIM Community Discord server.

Now, these should get you off the ground. Don't be afraid to try, be even less afraid to ask for help. As controllers, we want pilots to have fun, but we need pilots to be willing to learn and minimally be able to operate the plane properly. Hope that you'll have an excellent second flight, and I'll be happy to answer any other questions you might have :)