"You have a degree in art history? Oh nice, so you like to paint?" [I'm venting and perhaps hoping to find others who can relate]

People have said that to me more than once. I know a lot of people in general don't really "get" art history, but I'm understanding more and more how simplistic and unintellectual the majority views this field (maybe I'm just noticing it because I currently live in an "uncultured" area).Though some do put forth the effort to make small-talk about art with me, and it's always the same conversation: they like paintings that happen to be famous for being famous, and when I ask why they like a particular work, it's simply because of formalist values ("I like the fast brushstrokes," or "it's so life-like"). I mean, I love that so many people actually can say they have a favorite work of art, regardless of reasoning, and I'm not one to denounce it or make pretentious comments at all. But when I hear this from others it usually comes off as a patronizing way to relate to me.

I don't think the problem is that so many people don't understand art history, but rather, I can't actually find anyone who does understand it, and I want to. I've even tried reaching to online forums, like this subreddit-- but there usually isn't much activity, discussion, or stimulation, and is often filled with homework-help type of questions.

Do any of you guys crave this type of interaction? I'm sure those who live by big museums or galleries get a good amount of social stimulation, but what about those who don't? And for what it's worth, I do work at a small art/historical museum which centers around my area of focus, but my co-workers and the visitors don't happen to be particularly interested in the art aspect. Also, I will be applying to grad school this December, so that will solve my 'stimulation' issue, but not until the end of next year.

I'm sure I'm not expressing myself as well as I could be, but does anyone else seem to relate to any of this in one way or another?

Edit: Guys, it wasn't my intention to come off as pretentious at all, and the fact that so many of you thought so just indicates that I was not, in fact, expressing myself properly. I don't expect to launch into a full-on discussion about something intellectual like Adorno's take on art within capitalist modernity with the next person who tells me they really like Monet's water lilies. I never look down on anyone for liking art on simply an aesthetic level, and I also appreciate it when people at least put in the effort to try to relate to my interests. I never scoff or sneer at anyone who happens to talk to me about art. I smile and politely mirror my responses to match the conversation. But none of that is the problem. Instead, it's that I sometimes crave interaction with someone who actually "gets" it-- is it really so outlandish to long for that? I just think it'd be nice to look at a piece of art and casually bounce back and forth intelligent interpretations with another person. I wrote this post in hopes of finding other people who can relate, and judging from most of the responses, it looks like people just don't. And that's fine.