I think that the cycle of pitting generations and voter groups and etc against each other creates self fulfilling prophecies where those groups become tribal and responsive only to their 'in-group' - which when you take an electorally dominant group like the older folks, makes for a political environment that awards displays of 'authentic in-ness'. That is, discrimination, recrimination, and violence.
Seems odd to be able to make such a large decision with such a small majority.
On a slightly related note I find these conservative thinking backlashes quite fascinated. We had Rob Ford in Toronto, the yanks are presently dealing with a strong one, and from what I understand this Brexit movement originates from it.