Since when is "penis" a bad word?

I think some kid flagged me for saying PENIS !

You're correct.

It's an anatomical reference, and although the appropriateness of its use should be considered against the company you're with and the general flow of the conversation, it's not in the "bad word" category any more than other anatomical references would be.

However, there are those who consider it to be in the "adult" word category due to the fact that it relates to a reproductive system component in males...

I'm thinking more like troll, though... ;-)

I was not aware that it was a bad word .

Ignorant little me.

i think its not a bad word but a word with a tabou around it...

I prefer calling it Willie. Penis sounds too medical. And most the other words seem offensive.

As with women. Vagina is too medical. I like pussy. An endearing word. I find the other words crude and offensive. And why call something you really like that?

Check this out
http://www.tv.com/saturday-night-live/matthew-broderick-the-sugarcubes/episode/106846/summary.html
......
"after "The Penis Song")
Jack:
Hi, I'm Kevin Nealon. What you just saw was an attempt to make an important point - that wherever you go, no matter how you look on the outside, we're all pretty much the same. You know, when the Standards Department was dissolved here at NBC, we welcomed it as an opportunity to deal with issues like these in a frank way. And to be honest, we're a little disheartened by the snickering we heard during this presentation. It kind of makes us wonder if there's room for serious discussion of these subjects on television. So to those of you who missed the point - grow up. Really.
......
All:
"Penis, penis, penis, penis
Penis all day long..."