Tag versus ID Help?

[Envomni]

Ok so I've retruned to FL for the first time in about a year. Put in some 20 hours (thats horrible.. how can I give so much time to a game already?).

I've read the rules, but need some clarification on the terminology.

Tags, versus ID's versus ships / weapon mounts..

TAG as I read it in some places, refers to a clan / faction reference. But then someone in game was telling me my tag was showing as Liberty Police (to which they sent me to the F8 status screen). I don't get it.

Maybe the best way to ask this is this..

If I want to be a Corsair, what am I supposed to have for a tag, an ID, and a ship so that I don't get Admin'd to death about being out of the game rules?

If I want to be a Freelancer, what do I use for a tag, an ID, and a ship?

I'm sorry, the rules are just too scant on what word refers to what as compared to what people are telling me inside the game itself, and I can't figure out where the * I'm supposed to be now.