Question
i bought a plant as an impulse buy but i have no idea what it is.

it is a tall stemmed plant with leaves all around. the leaves are very long and the leaves in the center of the plant shoot straight up and are pointy at the end. it looks kinda like this:
http://www.thegardenhelper.com/easterlily.html
except the leaves are probably harder and denser and have no flowers.

Answer
Hi Brian
It sounds to me as if you have a type of a Dracaena.  There are a couple of different types;

*****Corn Plant (Dracaena fragrans-慚assangeana'): Semi resembles a corn stalk, thick stalk with dark green glossy shoots with stripes of yellow that come to a point at the ends.
*****  Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata): (I believe this may be the one you have)  Thinner stalk-thinner shoots than the corn plant, color can range from light green to tricolor of green, cream and pinkish.  The stalks are thin enough and playable enough to where they have a natural bend or arch to them.  The shoots are thin and come to a point at the ends.
***** "Janet Craig': Looks a bit like the Corn Plant except the leaves are solid in color-no yellow.
***** "Warneckii":  Stalks are thinner than the corn plant, but a bit thicker than the marginata.  The shoots are lightish green and cream colored and come to a point at the ends. They are a bit thicker than the other types of Dracaena.

You will see these plants used a lot in offices and malls.  They are easy to maintain and have been proved to help clean the air.  

Light-Bright, indirect light is the best to achieve thicker foliage.  Will tolerate lower light though.
Water-Allow the soil to dry before watering.  Water throughly, do not just 'spot water'.  
Fertilize monthly during spring and summer months, then hold off during winter.  

I hope this has been of some help to you Brian.  If you feel your plant is a different plant, let me know.

Good Luck!
Leslie