I'd start out on ActionScript 2 for your first few basic tutorials to ease you into basic programming concepts: MovieClips, variables and input etc. where the syntax isn't swamped with punctuation. From what I've seen, ActionScript 2 looks a lot more legible for someone with absolutely no programming experience or background.
Once you've got the concepts done, transfer any existing knowledge of ActionScript 2 and start learning how to code properly working games and interactive web applications (or whatever it is you want to do).
Of course learning all of ActionScript 2 and then leaping into ActionScript 3 and pointlessly relearning everything is a stupid mistake, I don't think that's what people mean. ActionScript 2 is just easier for inexperienced web developers, nail the concepts with something you can click your fingers and understand and then go and learn how to develop application in ActionScript 3, which is more advanced, but you'll understand a lot of the rules and thoughts behind the workings of it.