I can’t help but notice that you didn’t provide the exact quote here like you did for the others. “This book contains rules, especially in parts 2 and 3, that govern how the game plays. That said, many racial traits, class features, spells, magic items, monster abilities, and other game elements break the general rules in some way, creating an exception to how the rest of the game works. Remember this: If a specific rule contradicts a general rule, the specific rule wins.” Notably, the actual quote does distinguish between the general rules and game elements that break the general rules. The rules for skills are in section 2, which is noted as especially being where the general rules are found, and they are not racial traits, class features, spells, magic items, or monster abilities.