Hire me ;-)
No matter 12 string guitars are played the same way as 6 strings, the only difference is the neck width (larger to accomodate the strings space because each strings are doubled). The technique is the same. If you love folk songs, acoustic guitars that could be a good choice, but the sound of it is very peculiar and may not adapt to all kinds of rock music. I should advise you to learn with a 6 string first because bending a 12 string guitar may be harder (more tension on strings).
But if your only goal is to play stairway to heaven with the same sound 24H a day go for a 12 string lol
More seriously buy a good well made but affordable guitar and begin with it, any good guitar player have a collection of instruments, electric, hollow body for jazz, solid body for rock and pop.... you'll switch to others once you'll master that first instrument.... no need to buy the guitar of your dream, a good one to begin with, very neutral, comfortable in all playing styles. If you have Cort in your country that's an example of guitar without personality but well made and with good playability.
Learn what are Major chords, minor chords, dominant, and diminished chords.
4 simple forms, and your lucky guitar is beyond easy for that compare to other instruments.
90% of music is made of these so learn these 4 kinds of chords.
Sing everything you play, rely mostly on your ears, reading tablature is ok too you'll have the time to put a name on what you learn after that. Playing is far more important than studying 10H a day harmony etc.... ears are the most important thing you got to work.
Learn a song from A to Z then improvise on it, play with records, play with better musicians than you is the quickest way to improve yourself...
Rhythm is much more complex and harder than harmony... You can play with an indian musician or african musician thanks to rythm but their harmonic system are different.
If you're a rock player, learn powerchords, scales in position, tapping, sweeping, bending techniques, hammer on and pull offs, alternate (up and down picking technique)
play regularly 30 min or more per day with one or two day of rest...
If you feel pain, stop 30 min.... it's like sports, don't overdo things, be gentle with muscles.
For jazz learn transposing.
And most of all once you see the big picture specialise yourself in what you love or feel the most... be yourself and enjoy the music, since bad experiences or humiliations can compromise your learning pleasure.
If you're more interrested in the future of guitar... this one's for you... and it's relatively (i said relatively i know that for some its not...) I have a similar system... you'll see later what i do with it.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nKhlmJ4EeI"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nKhlmJ4EeI[/ame]