I don't think growing a "Thicker Skin" is an appropriate response when you're attempting to make an online service for everyone from the age of 6 to 106. Certainly, there will be limitations of exposure to negative influences because of the types of content people choose to play but griefers will play different types of games simply to ruin someone else's fun.

The perfect solution typically involves people setting preferences on the type of experience they want, having player-based rating systems, highly controlled servers which are moderated, uncontrolled servers to allow the dinks somewhere to play, and a machmaking system based on a massive rubric of player choices, player behaviors and player skill levels. (Essentially, it becomes an expensive system to create and maintain).

I agree that friend codes suck, but they are a necessary evil for the family friendly Nintendo.  It would be best to make friend codes primary, but allow people to override the system and use a person's system code instead.  (Each system has a unique identifier already.)  This would have to be setup on both sides.  The person who wants people to be able to find/play them via system code and those who choose to find their friends that way.

And wouldn't it be nice if people needed a parent code before having kids?  You need a license to drive a car.  An college diploma to become a doctor.  But any two idiots with a few free minutes can start the process of having a kid.  (Assuming one is a guy and the other a girl... :P )

Sony won't support porn and Nintendo won't support hard-core online gamers.  You can get around both but they are both bad business decisions.

 Exactly, I leave the game.  Apparently that's not what Nintendo wants.  My thesis is that causals (like me) would leave online games at a much lower threshold, and Nintendo understands this.  You need to look at perspectives of others.

And yes, the feature to anyone around the world is great.  That's what I mean by the "purest" Friend Code, one without modifications.  I think quite possibly Nintendo will implement something that is a modification of Friend Codes.

If you think it's stupid, give me your reasons. 

The reasons are obvious, everyone has stated them.  It is annoying.  You log on and can't immediately  play.  You have to find a friend to add just to play the game.  Then if that one person isn't online you have to add someone else.  Having to do that for every game?  Annoying.

What Nintendo needs to understand is that far more people prefer convenience in online gaming, not unneccessary restrictions.

I think if you make it through a day without being offended by something, you didn't do enough that day.

Hahaha. Personally, I don't go looking to get offended, least of all during my recreation time.

friend codes suck. The problem with xbox live is not that you can connect with anyone, its that you can hear everyone. When I play battlefield 2 or other pc game I can't stand it when I hear some 12 year old cussing like a little brat. Nintendo, at this time does not have voip in the works, so I think it should eliminate the codes, or set them in the parental controls for those who wish to use them. Not force them on everyone.

 Well, first off, nobody really knows how it's gonna work.   It's all speculation at this point, so neither you nor I can say anything all that concrete.  But it's fun to talk about it anyway.

Before I saw the video I totally agree with you.  I agreed with "everyone".  I would think that I just want to jump in and play... but if you read my posts I learned from experience that it's not quite like that.

Here's a "smart person" argument (more like a rhetoric): Nintendo knows how to run a business.  If the reason is so obvious that everybody can see, Nintendo certainly knows.  Then why does it appear to take a different course?  They must know something we don't.

But in general, the "smart person" type of argument goes a long way.  I have stated some possible reasons Nintendo have decided to go that way in previous posts.  Of course I can be wrong, Nintendo can be wrong.

A valid counterargument to that would be that Nintendo simply doesn't think online gaming is such a big deal, and would like to minimize possible damage from completely free and unobstructive online gaming and thus creating this Friend Code.  Now that action would be defensive in nature and does not do the gaming community any good.

We don't know which is Nintendo's intent.  We'll just have to see how it's executed.

Well, I don't have a Wii yet so I'm going on what other people have said. The majority of people on this forum favor the Wii so maybe they can clarify the issue. From what I've read here and in magazines, you have to add people for current games on the VC that are online. I thought there were already games online for that, but I could be wrong.  I thought what I said was common knowledge, however, about having to add friend codes for every game.  They could (and SHOULD) change it, but that's what I've heard.

superchunk says Nintendo isn't even doing VOIP! I hope that is wrong but it wouldn't surprise me. If that is the case, why the heck does Nintendo need friend codes?

I'm sorry you are offended by the link above, but it's not like someone is going to post a "good game" comment on youtube. No one would care. I've played dozens of online games from Diablo to Warcraft 3 to Counter-strike to Resistance. Yes, you get some idiots just like you do in classes, the workplace, elementary schools, and everywhere else. But, for the most part people are nice and say good game and nice shot. If you join a clan (does Nintendo even support that?) you'll of course find people are nicer to you.