I think 'text speak' is creeping into general daily usage - e.g. 'soz'. Trouble is you get so used to these 'words' that when you need to 'find' a decent, correct one, it becomes almost impossible!
At school, we weren't allowed to use 'nice' either - even in the latter days of primary school. Now I really don't mind - it's a 'mild' word which can describe something if you don't want to go too deeply into it!! Can't be doing with 'awesome' fab, etc (we did use that in the 60's though and it was ok then!) What's all this with 'soz' instead of 'sorry' and OMG (oh how I cannot stand that one!)
You're right jangly my English teacher, and my the one who taught my daughter too, both banned the "nice" word. I think that's where my aversion to it started
Nice is the perfect example of how the meanings of words change in the English language. At different times it has meant ignorant, wanton, rare, reserved and subtle. Nowadays, of course, it is just a bland term to describe anything faintly pleasing or satisfying. A similar change is happening rather faster to other words such as awesome, great, fabulous and many more, which nowadays tend to be used to describe anything faintly pleasing or satisfying too.
How I hate that word - just what does it mean, to me it shows that I can't be bothered to think of a more appropriate adjective. Anyone have alternative suggestions and also, what other words really annoy you