http://victuruslibertas.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/needhelpgirl.png

I am new to the platform.  I have a few questions I was hoping some of you who are not so new could help me with.

Under my name there is a small number with a circle around it.  What is that?  When I first signed up the number was 25.  I have made 3 posts and now the number is a 37.

One of my posts has 4 comments.  I am unable to see the comments now.  I was able to see them at first, and one of the comments was from some robot notifier something or other saying that my post is very similar to another post-  it seemed to be accusing me of plagiarizing.  There was some plagiarizing going on, but the other article had copied and pasted MY article from my website www.VicturusLibertas.com.  I own that website and my husband and I are the writers of all  articles on that site.  I had put one of my articles on Steemit.  I replied to the robot thingie saying that I am the owner of VL and the article is mine-  I'm the original author, blah... blah... blah...  and after that, I could no longer see the comments at the bottom of my post.

Could someone tell me the difference between a post and blog?  I know that sounds stupid, but is one actually different from the other?  Does one get more exposure?  Easier to post to?  Etc?

This also may sound stupid, but when I direct my followers on facebook and on my website to come here to follow me on Steemit, do I tell them my name is @vicuturuslibertas?  Can they find me like that, or do I need a whole link?

Ugh!  I guess that's all the stupid questions I want to plague you with for now, but I reserve the right to ask more stupid questions until I figure out what all this is about!  :)  

Thank you for your patience with me!