It certainly is more complicated than clicking on a link and downloading a file.
1. Download and install on your computer a torrent downloading program. I like
http://www.vuze.com/ (aka azureus)
2. Sign up for an account at a torrent tracker site. This one should be an easy sign up:
http://www.purelivegigs.com/3. Download a torrent file (.torrent) from the tracker site. Save the file in a folder you've made for .torrent files.
4. From your torrent downloading program, browse to the torrent file you just downloaded (file->open->add files)
5. Select a location to save the actual torrent files (eg the content) you're after (location to save data, browse, <make a new folder>)
6. Click OK.
Vuze shows the progress of the download, your speeds (upload and download) as well as your share ratio. It might take many hours for it to complete or if the torrent is new, only a few minutes. Try to leave it on long enough for your share ratio to approach 1.0. You can control which torrents you are seeding and stop the ones which you have good ratios on (or stop them all).