HBO - Game of Thrones SPOILERS INSIDE. you have been warned

[strife]

In the show what happened to Jon has nothing to do with the Wildlings otherwise it makes zero sense. Self preservation even for theives with an IQ of 70 had to kick in after what they heard happen in Hardhome and lived through at the Crag. The only way it makes sense for Thorne and company to kill Jon is to do it NOT because of the Wildlings but to take control of the Nights Watch. Basically it was a coup.

I think it's both. For Thorne, is was a coup. And Thorne used the sentiments of Olly-and-the-like to take out Jon. He needed to do it this way. He needed the complete buy-in of the remaining watch, lest he become another Jon.

right. Thorne is using his hatred of Jon as a driving force. He's not using logic. They are stuck in their old ways of the Wildling's being the enemy... honestly it has a similar story arc to racism in general. The nights watch has lost its real goal... to protect the realm. Jon realized it... nobody else did... those that killed Jon, did so because they are blinded by their hated for the Wildlings.