I only gave the advice I did simply because hearing this person talk...they could have been me to the "T" about 12 or so years ago when I first started out in the hobby. 

Even though I was given the name of a local club and a members number to call by the guy at the LHS...I declined to do so because I didnt want to have to humble myself amongst strangers and be ridiculed because I knew nothing(at least in my mind).  I thought I would be able to do it on my own, afterall its only a toy plane...how hard could it be??? LOL

Needless to say I totally destroyed my first plane before I had ran even half a tank through it.  I salvaged the engine and electronics and built an Air Core trainer that rarely flew and I crashed almost every flight(definitely can blame this on my lack of knowledge of setup).  I got to the point of giving up and did just that.  It wasnt until last May that I got the bug again and decided I was much older and wiser now and would seek help.

I did seek out a club in my area...went a few times to the field (our club will let anyone come and fly 3 separate times before the requirement of joining AMA and the club itself) and felt it out.  I already had built an ARF trainer and was ready to join the club.

I learned more about flying in a short month of so last year than I did the entire almost 2 years I struggled on my own.  I can now take off and land without problem and have flown several of my planes with great success.  I only have had 1 crash since I started back and that was my own fault with changing out a radio set and the controls were reversed.  And even then I was able to salvage the plane with only minor damage.

Ultimately, its up to the individual though.  If they dont want to join...none here can make them.  And I can only speak for myself in saying that joining a club was the best thing I ever done.