There is one thing that I wonder about. And that is, if you do vote your own song better than the one against which it is paired...are you penalized for doing so? Here is why I wonder about that.

During the month of May, I have been presented with the opportunity to vote on my songs paired against another five times...once on one song and twice each for two other songs. On the song which came up only once, I actually voted the other song better than mine, because it was. On my other two songs, each of which came up twice for my voting, I voted one of them "slightly more" and "more"; and for the other one of mine that came up twice, I voted "more" both times because I thought that was legitmately true.

The song for which I voted against myself, because the other song truly was better, has stayed, more or less, at the same position...up and down less than ten positions. On the two songs for which I voted myself a more favorable vote, "more" or slightly more"...both to of those songs took an immediate and severe nose dive within 24 hours.

I had a similar incident in last month's voting. When I voted against my song, it maintained a fairly steady ranking. The song for which I voted myself a better rating dropped dramatically the next day.

Is this simply a matter of coincidence that repeated itself, or is there really a penalty if you do vote yourself higher higfher than the song against which it is paired?

If the other song is better than mine, I will vote it accordingly. I have done that twice already. However if I honestly feel mine is better, I feel I should vote it that way. But now, I am very reluctant to vote for my own song. I am inclined to vote "same" when one of mine came up.

I have been a very vocal supporter of OurStage, so there certainly is no axe to grind on my part. But, I am now a bit suspicious. Should I be?

Al