Ask HN: How do I get started on Hacker News?

>Should I first engage in other people's comments before submitting some of my own stuff?

I find that engaging with, and understanding, a community before posting is generally best. Otherwise is just seems like a person is running around to every site spamming their product for cheap click and traffic... which no one likes.

I had a similar experience when I first arrived here.

I found that If you're here to participate in good faith discussion, you will be welcomed. Eventually.

I see your username in green (not sure if "green" is supposed to evoke "greenhorn" or new), but that means you're a relatively new user.

I would point out that even long-time users have their submissions ignored/flagged pretty often too. There's been some discussion here (and posts elsewhere) that discuss "how to get your submission to the front page of HN," with varying degrees of success. You might search for some of those.

That said, as you mentioned in your "Ask HN" submission (I note that it has not been flagged or ignored):

   I submitted a couple of posts on a website I'm building, 
   but I'm unable to see them on the "new" section when I'm 
   logged out of my account.

Submitting your own posts (presumably as marketing/shilling for your site) is often (not always, "Show HN" posts are mostly just that) not well received here.

All that said, welcome to HN!

I hope your experience (as mine did, after a short while) becomes a positive one that allows you to qualitatively add to the discussions here.

N.B.: I speak only for me and wouldn't attempt to do so for anyone else, including HN management.