People either get Twitter or they don't. I was slow to it compared to some, and it was only when I heard that the notoriously internet shy @ememess was tweeting that (once I'd stopped laughing..) checked in with my other guru of all things writerly @chadbourn and asked him whether I needed to be doing it or not. Back then, it was about another promotional tool for writing rather than a replacement for Facebook or about engaging in ridiculousness with new people.

When making this 'business' decision to sign up, I forgot for a nano-second that I am the girl that can't smoke without it being 40 a day, by-passed marijuana and went straight for the cocaine, and am eternally grateful that the one time I tried Crack, it just didn't float my boat.

Let's be clear, the days of my vices are long gone, but Twitter hooked me in the same way as Marlboro Red did back in the day, and within weeks I was tweeting an INSANE amount. I love the people I've met via it (my blog wouldn't be my blog without a mention of @elliottbeth these days), and feel like I've known many of them forever - some of them I now do know in the real world and count among as good friends - in fact, I met my new best friend and writing buddy, @juliansimpson through dicking around on Twitter.

BUT -

Let's face it - anything that is primarily a series of updates on your daily routine is going to appeal to the hugely egocentric. Anyone that knows me, (@porthouse, I see that raised eyebrow) will know that I'm firmly in that bracket. Yeah, us Twitteraddicts aim to be funny or clever, but sometimes it really is as banal as 'Off to the gym.' Oh yeah, trust me - I have sent that tweet, as if the Twitterverse REALLY needed to know my exact movements, because frankly I am THAT important.

HOWEVER -

There are some Tweeters that are using the whole system to do some good. For them Twitter is actually about drawing attention to OTHERS rather than themselves and have seen the potential market for attention that Twitter can create for smaller charities that can't afford the national campaigns of their larger competitors, for want of a better word. It's a couple of those people I want to mention here. I hadn't heard of either of their fund-raising and awareness work until somehow our Follows crossed paths, but I'm totally inspired by both of them, and in awe of what they do.

First: @paul_steele

https://www.anthonynolanevents.org.uk/paulsteele

This man is constantly climbing mountains and raising money to combat Leukemia and raise awareness for the need for bone marrow donors. He's made me want to go and get registered. On twitter he's funny, energetic and always ready to help promote other good causes as well as his own. This one is a real diamond geezer, I reckon. Last year he summited Kilimanjaro for the VSO as can be seen here, and then wanted to do something for the Anthony Nolan Trust. I might have gone on a 24 hour sponsored starve or something - this man is going to climb Mt Aconcuaga in Argentina. Check the photos - Now that's commitment and inspirational in itself.

Paul on top a mountain..........and one he's yet to scale!

Second: @jessicastrust

http://www.jessicastrust.org.uk/

This charity has been set up by Ben Palmer who lost his wife to childbed fever. She was 34. He now has nearly 3000 signatures on a petition to the government to do more to raise awareness in health workers that childbed fever is still a real threat to pregnant women, even those who are young and healthy.

This man campaigns relentlessly and it's been amazing to see the people who have signed his petition and re-tweeted about his campaign. Jonathan Ross and his wife, and even the God of Twitter himself, Stephen Fry have helped this man in his aim.

I'm not a mother, and I've kind of reached a peace with myself that there's a pretty big possibility that I never will be, so although this charity doesn't affect me personally, as a writer I find it totally fascinating. If I was @carolematthews and could do the 'people story' stuff I'd write a book about this man and his wife and tell their story. This is a charity that has been born from lost love and there is something achingly lovely about how relentless this man has been in promoting this charity. In fact, when I see La Matthews on Thursday for coffee I might just suggest she thinks about it.

Anyway - if you're on Twitter check these boys out. Follow them. Show your support. Go to their websites and do what you can.

They're the kind that give Twitter a GOOD name..

me x