UNDERSTANDING SKEUOMORPHISM (REVISED)
Skeuomorphism is not determined by one person.
I keep seeing posts that amount to “look at this glossy icon I made” being labeled as skeuomorphic. And that should be perfectly acceptable! It would be extremely discouraging if someone removed their post for it not fitting into their own strict ideals.
Skeuomorphism is about making a digital object resemble a real-world object through its form, materials, lighting, texture, depth, and interaction. The goal is to evoke something tangible and familiar, which often can be achieved with gradients, reflections, or even an Aero-style shine if you wish.
A glossy red circle with a play icon is perfectly skeuomorphic, as it represents a texture from real life.
Hopefully no angry mods come through stomping out more posts speaking out about this. No artists should be silenced because someone is mad about icons not being the way they'd like.