If the Oxford comma were standard, you would notice its absence.

If the Oxford comma were standard,you would notice it missing and conclude that old and young must describe the awesome guests already listed.But as things stand,you will always wonder whether it means that a bunch of regular, boring kids and old people showed up as well.Ultimately, the serial comma may be useful or annoying, but your opinion on it,as for many optional things,probably has something to do with whichever style you were raised on.Your high school teachers favored it?It's likely you're still using it.Your first editor hated it?You probably do, too.And maybe so much hairsplitting over a tiny squiggle on a page is a bit silly.After all,there are so many bigger problems to worry about.But sometimes, little things can make a big difference.