Well... it's not a list in the first place. It's a reference to an old joke, and the point of it is that a panda bear "eats shoots and leaves" -- but if you throw in a comma, you get a panda bear with a gun, y'see...Originally Posted by catcaregiver
So isn't that a perfect example of where not to use a serial comma? Using it would certainly change the meaning.
You have to read the book to really appreciate the humor!