Is it normal i like exercise but i hate the gym?

I hate going to gyms too, for many reasons. Get your own equipment. I have an old exercise bike and I hop on that. Not constantly, but usually in the early mornings. It's a nice workout.

Get your own equipment. Like you, I hate the crowd, the putrid smell in men's locker room, and the obscene amount of retards who can't read the "please don't sit on equipment; other people want to use it" signs.

One thing you mentioned, the not knowing how anything works... Ask gym staff. In my gym, I had to undergo mandatory (free) "orientation" where a dude went over every machine with me. It's in their best interest that you don't hurt yourself misusing the equipment. I'm sure your gym offers orientation as well.

Theres plenty you can do outside of the gym, I hate the gym because I feel like its confining and I prefer being outdoors but I'm a college athlete so I do need some of the equipment.
That being said you can do all your cardio outside of a gym. Idk if you live by a beach but running on the sand and swimming in the ocean are some of the best exercises you can do. Just running in your neighborhood or biking. Jumping rope is great for your heart. At home you can do crunches and planks for core, pushups and tricep dips for arms, leg lifts and squats for thighs and ass.
I would recommend getting light weights because even I'd you aren't interested in getting buff you need to have weight training. If you'd like I could formulate a whole workout for you! This is what I've done for pretty much my whole life