i missed all the high school classes & college lectures where they teach you how to be a person haha

how do you make friends as an adult, when you're out and about? in a new or random setting where you don't know anyone? do you just start talking to strangers?

i'm good at complimenting people or whatever, but i have no idea how to turn that sort of thing into an actual conversation...much less into an actual connection

I'd suggest seeing if there are hobby groups around town. For example, I enjoy writing and wanted to be able to get regular feedback on my work, so I joined a writers' group. I also play D&D, and speak/meet with my friends outside of those scenarios as well. Sometimes people start groups for other arts and crafts, book clubs, you name it--I've even seen advertisements for breast feeding support groups for new parents. So, chances are you can probably find a group that reflects your interests. :D

If you're religious or spiritual, a place of worship might be a good option to visit to meet people. Another secular option would be local shows/events--open mic nights at coffee places, concerts, etc. Of course, a lot of this depends on how big your town is. I've found that smaller towns are feasts or famines for people who don't ascribe to a particular faith, or whose faith doesn't have a physical space in the town (at least, the small town I grew up in had plenty of Christian churches, but no mosques or synagogues).

Some cities have dedicated reddit pages where you can reach out and ask if there are people who want to meet up over a common interest. If you're in a more rural area, there might be a Facebook page for your county. My parents live in a small town, but the county they live in has a "swap and talk" page for exactly that--selling and gossip. :P

Depending on whether you work/what your workplace is like, it's also appropriate to ask coworkers you get along with if they'd like to go for lunch/coffee sometime. At least, I find it freeing to be out of the office when I'm just chatting with my coworkers, if I want to develop a non-work relationship with them.

I hope that helps a bit!

easy: i just don't. lol But if i were, i'd join groups where i can share or learn more about my hobbies. or about pets.. or children if you have. Clearly, in school your friends had similar interests with you, and this is what made you connect. As an adult, you connect the same way. Marcus gave specific and plenty ideas ;) good luck. Oh, i've seen people turning online friendships into off-line friendships. even here on subeta.