# Ok to start a thread soliciting PMs?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-start-a-thread-soliciting-pms/568974
**Category:** About This Message Board
**Created:** [January 25, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-start-a-thread-soliciting-pms/568974 "2011-01-25T21:46:50Z")
**Posts on this page:** 9
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2011, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-start-a-thread-soliciting-pms/568974/1 "2011-01-25T21:46:50Z")
I’m hoping to move closer to DC in a few months, and it’s nearly impossible to get reliable information on apartment complexes and management companies just from the internet\*. I’d like to start a thread in MPSIMS asking if anyone in/near the city lives (or recently lived) in an apartment building that they’d recommend, but I imagine that people probably won’t want to reveal where they currently live on a public message board. So, I would solicit PMs from those willing to share that information. Which means that there might not be much “meat” to the thread (though I suppose it _could_ turn into a discussion about what makes for a good apartment complex). It also means that the thread is likely to sink quickly, but if I can get even one or two good recommendations it’ll be worth it – to me. Is it ok to start a thread knowing that most of the replies will be PMs?
\*Apartment rating sites are next to useless: a lot of the positive comments are from leasing agents and not actual tenants, plus those sites tend to skew towards people with complaints. So I don’t trust either the positive _or_ negative reviews.
---
### Author:  [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2011, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-start-a-thread-soliciting-pms/568974/2 "2011-01-25T22:09:28Z")
So, your point is? I have relatives who have apartments in the Watergate, and I have relatives who live in the “bad” parts of town. Which would you like? I can give you both. Your choice.
---
### Author:  [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2011, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-start-a-thread-soliciting-pms/568974/3 "2011-01-25T22:15:15Z")
I just want to know if that kind of thread would be ok, or if it would be likely to get closed once a mod saw it. I’m not actually asking yet. (But when I do, I’ll ask to hear only from current/former tenants – not “I know someone who lives there.” But thanks.)
---
### Author:  [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-start-a-thread-soliciting-pms/568974/4 "2011-01-25T22:36:50Z")
They are more likely to ban me, than you, over this one. Your proposed thread should be OK. Unless a mod comes on and says “No!” you shouldn’t have a problem.
---
### Author:  [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2011, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-start-a-thread-soliciting-pms/568974/5 "2011-01-26T03:22:48Z")
BTW, I should have mentioned that IMHO is probably the best forum for what you describe, but you’ll have to wait for a mod to weigh in, for an official word on that.
---
### Author:  [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-start-a-thread-soliciting-pms/568974/6 "2011-01-26T03:44:55Z")
Yeah, we can understand why people wouldn’t want to say “I live at the Sheltering Arms and it’s a great complex.”
Or even “I have a wonderful place in Adams-Morgan.”
So yes, I think if you would like to solicit real-life information via PM that would be fine. If people feel comfortable enough to say something publicly, that’s okay too but that’s their choice to make.
I don’t have a problem with it but let me check with my brethren and get back to you.
---
### Author:  [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2011, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-start-a-thread-soliciting-pms/568974/7 "2011-01-26T14:33:40Z")
Thanks, **TubaDiva**. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-start-a-thread-soliciting-pms/568974/8 "2011-01-26T16:25:35Z")
We’re good with this.
Hope you find a nice place to hang your hat.
---
### Author:  [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2011, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ok-to-start-a-thread-soliciting-pms/568974/9 "2011-01-26T17:33:03Z")
Great; thanks again!