Pensezvous

Pensezvous is a term used in contemporary online discourse to describe a practice or framework intended to stimulate collaborative thinking and reflective dialogue among participants. There is no single canonical definition, and usage varies across communities.

The term appears to be a French-derived neologism blending penser (to think) and vous (you), signaling a collective invitation to think together. Its early usage is associated with online discussions that promote reflective participation rather than passive consumption.

In practice, pensezvous refers to guided prompts—questions, scenarios, or challenges—that participants respond to individually and then discuss in public threads or small groups. It is implemented as prompt calendars, classroom activities, or online modules. The aim is to raise critical thinking, empathy, and shared understanding rather than reach quick conclusions.

Reception has been mixed. Supporters view pensezvous as a low-stakes method to foster deliberation and inclusive dialogue. Critics warn that prompts may become performative, encourage superficial responses, or lead to groupthink if not designed carefully.

See also: collaborative learning, Socratic questioning, deliberative democracy.