mysql 5.0 add users

[Dimitri Mallis]

i installed mysql 5.0 from the repos on ubuntu dapper drake

i could only go in to mysql when i was root, & then i guess i am
suposed to add users there.

i have tried "man mysql" i might have missed the part on how you add
normal users to write databases

i have downloaded the documentation on the mysql.com site for version 5.0
i followed these steps

5.7.5. How to Run MySQL as a Normal User

mysqld worked as root but not as the normal user, i got a error

dimitri at ubuntu:~$ mysqld
060705 18:55:12 [Warning] Can't create test file
/var/lib/mysql/ubuntu.lower-test
060705 18:55:12 [Warning] One can only use the --user switch if running as root

060705 18:55:12  InnoDB: Operating system error number 13 in a file operation.
InnoDB: The error means mysqld does not have the access rights to
InnoDB: the directory.
InnoDB: File name ./ibdata1
InnoDB: File operation call: 'open'.
InnoDB: Cannot continue operation.

i got a bit confused with
shell> chown -R user_name /path/to/mysql/datadir
i think i might have messed up the "/path/to/mysql/datadir" part, i
think i put "/usr/sbin/mysqld"

no luck with that iether. i know i have missed some thing very simple
i just cant see it

any help

thanks