After a flick though the Mario Kart Wii Manual. I came across a little note in it about Friend Codes.

'The Friend Code system was developed so that players who know each other well can safely play with each other. If you post your Friend Code on an internet meassage board or give it ou to people you don't know, you may inadvertently receive tampered data or offensive messages without your consent. Do not share your friend code with people you don't know.'

What do you lot think? As I have noticed this sort of activity taking place on this website. Is it as harnful as Nintendo says it is.

Legal butt-covering.

Like Soriku says, friend codes are a two-way street. Any nefarious ne'er-do-well would have to dupe you into adding him/her as a friend.

The friend code system is very restrictive anyway and any in game messages are strictly controlled due to no voice chat.

It only through he message board that you could receive anything threatening/abusive.

I prefer the 360 approach where I can link my MSN contacts and if I choose to add someone else they will receive a message stating that and vice versa. Also you can add people you have just played against or with.