So the warmth of the campfire seems to the hardened veteran half-wildling outsider, who is sure that civilization is making people soft and stupid.

Well, it is. But consider how many times, in a long drive, for example, you end up resolving to look soemthing up when you get home--the correct pronunciation of "schism", or who the thirteenth Secretary of the Treasury was, or what Babe Ruth's batting average really was, or the correct distance to low-earth orbit. The joy of having such information at your fingertips while being able to process your Spam at the same time!! Incomparable!! PIctures, songs, the NY Times archive, authoritative instructions for building a basement desalination unit, all at your fingertips!! Wow!

A