Painting basement ceiling black a good move?

[Paul Winka]

Paint a ceiling black??

Just bought a 3/2 982 s.f ranch built in 1966. The basement is partly finished but will need demo of the current drop ceiling. The ceiling is around 7 feet without the drop ceiling. Not keen on spending for  a new drop ceiling and was considering painting the ceiling black on the suggestion of a colleague..but I dunno...can't exactly undo that back to bare wood once that's done. Is there a better color, or is this a mistake altogether? 

[Jim K.]

Originally posted by @Jay Hinrichs:

when I worked in Detroit the guys would paint the copper lines grey so the thieves thought they were galvanized and would not rip them out.. other wise.. in a rental don't see the need at all

One of the best tips I ever got was to cut a ten-foot length of 1/2 in. PEX and leave it in a highly visible place near the door of any house I'm holding empty or renovating. Crackheads see it and figure the copper water lines have all been scavenged and replaced already.