It is now being taken as a ‘fact’ that the under-30’s think that the Jonathan Ross/Russell Brand row is being blown up out of all proportion, while their elders take it all more seriously
This is further being interpreted as evidence that the young have a different sense of humour than the old
I think there is a different explanation
The particular event which set this all off provides the occasion, but not the reason, for the row
The occasion for a lot of resentments & discontents to come to the fore. Disparate & different discontents, so that both Gordon Brown & David Cameron, for example, can appear to be on the same side
Among them, the compulsory payment of the licence fee & the justification we were given for the very large sums paid to Jonathan Ross. This was very similar to those used to justify the payment of bonuses to bankers & captains of industry, & thus now seem equally indefensible
As is well attested, gross inequalities of income in countries or in businesses cause unhappiness, & in this row even the BBC’s own staff are letting their resentments show
The young have just had less time to let their resentments simmer
