Some love em' some hate em', but we all need em'.
I use scale for excercis and for putting together solo's.
If you put together a tune using 4 chord for example and the tune is in the Key of E or what ever then you want to play a solo within the tune or over it you need a scale which fits. then using the notes in the chosen scale you can then make up your solo.
Send me your email adress and i will send on some pretty useful scales and other info in easie to understand form.
Learn a scale fully, then play around with it, but try to keep in mind what tune or style you want use it with.
Hope this is if use. It's the best I can do.
Going to a proffessional tutor will be of great use, even if you only go a couple of times for a deeper understanding of scales etc.
While I'm sat here, Playin', I'm tryin' to free my mind!