If Mitt Romney was currently a spokesman in favor of gay rights, I don't think most people would hold his teenage years - or even early twenties - against him, whether or not he's in the running to be the president of the United States.

Exactly this, yes.

You know, when we're old, I wonder what 'stick in the mud' attitude we're going to cling so stubbornly and against all logic to.

I worry it will be grammar. "Grandma Thistle, WHY do you HAVE TO spell everything right! It's EMBARRASSING!" I suspect that lolspeak/texting-typing will become the norm, even in workplace environments.

I'll go to my grave a dirty grammarist before I give that up. :|

:P