ranting about knitting

dude im a crocheter and i don't understand knitting. I keep casting on 5 but then when it comes to the first stitch on the first (second? one after casting on) row the yarn keeps slipping. I have to prop the needs against my body and its soooo sloooowwwww. I don't know why I don't just go back to crochetting... I want to learn but learning to crochet was nowhere near as hard and it didn't hurt my wrists nearly as much