CRuSH Breaks The Silence With A Big Bang

Look who's talking, well at least on the new TOUCH Silent Forum. And that wasn't a joke though it was launched on April Fool's Day. CRuSH has taken the non-profit project seriously, enough for the folks with TOUCH Silent Services to have something to smile about. :) Hosting the site on the TOUCH Youth Server, the necessary technical support was rendered by CRuSH which also played consultant. "Instrumental" - it has been in fact to the whole setup, according to Wee Bee Hong, Head of Silent Club. Other than training the administrators, Nigel Wong has helped to troubleshoot in times of trouble.

The first phase of Forum participation was to be heralded by a core group of about forty net savvy deaf members and volunteers, from ages eighteen to twenty five years old. In fact, any of the three hundred TOUCH Silent members would able to access the six respective boards upon registration. The six boards are IT Stuff, Silent World, Sports, Deaf Culture, Lifestyle and Announcements. Interesting discussions will centre on various relevant issues, such as, “Should a deaf date a non-deaf?” Aimed at strengthening the community, TSC hopes that it will foster the right climate with wholesome values, in line with what CRuSH wholly advocates. Members can bring their friends in, making the Forum a safer platform than chatting with faceless strangers. Also, two moderators will be around to do the needed housekeeping to keep the virtual space clutter and smut free.

These are exciting times as TOUCH Silent Club hopes to surmount some immediate challenges. Contrary to popular belief, the deaf may not necessarily spend more time on the Forum. In fact, they generally feel semantically challenged and some handicap in the language given the limited exposure to the English language. Being on the forum would, therefore, serve as a challenge even as they shed their inhibitions. Not an end in itself, through the Forum, publicity is expected to be generated so that more deaf will join the Club. An enriching multi-prong approach, the Forum will work in conjunction with the IT classes conducted and skills imparted to the deaf.

But it isn’t all work and no play. As it is, the fun factor of the Forum has already risen with the online party thrown on 24th April at 10:38 PM. A happy hour that flew by as ten members and three guests participated in the games, like "Longest Thread Story" and "Fastest Finger Wins." As one of the users attested, "Well, in fact, I enjoyed myself tremendously & I had great fun! I'm so glad that I actually came online tonite!!!"

Well done guys and thanks for the memories, CRuSH!!!! :)