Ok, so as long as you can log onto VMK and get into the game, the ports needed are already open. If "everything is turning red" when you are trying to talk to people try doing some of the following:
1) make sure caps lock is turned OFF
2) make sure you are using words that VMK will allow. There are a large number of words that are not permitted, these include numbers and words that could be used to describe personal information (locations, names, etc)
3) make sure you are spelling the words correctly. Incorrect spelling will not pass the language filters either.
4) make sure you are not repeating the same word 3 times in a sentence. The third instance of a word will be disallowed.
Other than that, if you are having problems communicating, it is not due to a connectivity issue but a language issue.
good luck!