In the dictionary it has various meanings: careful thought, or something to be kept in mind while making a decision; thoughtful or sympathetic regard or respect; thoughtfulness for others.
It is the last one, we should all take notice of because it is endangered.
Fewer and fewer people seem to care about the impact of their actions on others.
It is very like the slow death of manners - although one can be considerate without actually having manners.
Three things recently have shown me just what a pack of selfish oiks are part of our society.
The first is an age-old one, but it has become more and more of a problem. Drivers speeding down 50km/h roads at 80-90km/h.
They endanger children, animals and other people without a care in the world. Hopefully there will be a lamp-post waiting for them at some stage.
Secondly, is a massive rise in the number of dog owners who use the beach access next to us as a toilet for their blasted mutts.
Big ones, small ones, middle-sized ones and even massive ones wait lurking for unsuspecting feet.
Even on my freaking lawn. To dog owners in the area: Take a plastic bag and clean up after your foul beasts, you disgusting, lazy swine.
This is not Poopamoa.
The third item was outside the Papamoa Plaza.
On Saturday, the place was chaotic, with more cars zipping around than you'd see outside an Auckland shopping centre on sales day.
A guy in a small silver SUV decided to stop just past the main pedestrian crossing. His actions half blocked the lane and completely locked in at least two cars in the 10-minute car spaces. Oh, he's letting someone out, I thought, but then the hazard lights came on and he jumped out, before running into the centre itself.
Self-absorbed? Selfish? Or just a complete idiot with no consideration for others? Actually, he was all three.
AS SOMEONE getting ready to fly to Europe for the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, I'm very pleased airlines have decided to boost safety by making it compulsory for two crew to be in the plane's cabin at all times.
It is a belated response to the unbelievable episode in which an unstable co-pilot on a German budget carrier - Germanwings - deliberately flew into a mountain.
The co-pilot, Andreas Lubitz, was reported to have been depressed over a broken relationship and so when the pilot of the flight went to the loo he locked him out of the cabin and sent the plane down towards the Alps.
Now if someone is unstable enough to kill themselves over a failed love affair then that is up to them, but to kill 150 other people with you should put you on the fast elevator to Hell, in my opinion.
Isn't it astounding that in the modern world of security-paranoia that pours out of America, the most recent mass killing is brought about by someone who was above suspicion?
A co-pilot, who no one would imagine would do such a thing.
Imagine being a passenger on board the doomed flight as you see the pilot trying to axe his way into the cockpit. That is not on my bucket list, I can tell you.
richard@richardmoore.com
-Richard Moore is an award-winning Western Bay journalist and photographer.
