So my girlfriend and I have this friend - the kind you're glad has moved to California. And she is SO impressed by this guy who is against materialism, apparently he's so against it he doesn't buy posters or put up photos of friends and family.

Then this girl - who uses her parent's credit card to go to France - is giving us a sermon against material wealth. We nod politely and then when we leave my girlfriend wonders how this idiot doesn't understand jetfuel is a material good.

I actually go one step further and say I love materialism. I love buying roleplaying books, videogames, comics. What I don't understand is why is this bad? I mean, am I not supporting people who are working to produce something that I want?

I understand living within your means, but what is wrong with buying stuff when it supports other people's work? That's why I think the rich want me to get richer, so I can buy more of the stuff they make. It's all about figuring out ways to increase the pie.