Diamonds Are Forever?

We buy diamonds. Rare, clear, sparkly rocks. Why? Because they are pretty? We decorate our lives with fanciful, pointless things for the mere fact that they look good.

Which brings us more pleasure in life? Spending money on a diamond OR spending the same amount on actually helping someone else? Most people would probably say to help someone else brings more pleasure. But how do we live?

This isn't just limited to precious stones. What about the entertainment we choose to spend our time consuming? What is the point of it? Movies, books, sports? Does it have a purpose beyond titillating ourselves for a short period of time?