Earlier quoted context omitted.
How far will people go to avoid learning C++? Trust me, C++ isn't that scary.
Getting off topic, but what resources do you recommend for learning C++. It seems that half the resources I find are either designed for people completely new to programming (I know basic programming construct, along with OOP) or don't bother teaching stuff like the stl and all these different pointer types
It's important to take into account the dates when the learning materials were published. New features change the way how the same thing is done (while keeping the old way still compiling and working). Specifically about the STL there are old books from Meyers. To not get lost in time there is the "C++ Standards Support in GCC" site of the GCC compiler which enumerates all the new features that were added during the post-2011 accelerated development period. The modern C++ has seen no books so it's may be useful to just watch some talks by people who develop the language, standard library, compilers or who have experience in using it: Sutter, Lavavej, Stroustrup, Alexandrescu, Carruth, Hinnant, Vandevoorde, Niebler for example.