I find “these guys” arguments are perfectly unenlightening — though some prefer the phrasing “those people”.
One should respond to arguments Thiel is actually making, if he is making an argument at all. He thinks it’s an interesting idea. If it turns out to be stupid, great.
Nobody does things “for ideology”. People do things they think are correct or useful or interesting, not for straw-man “ism”s. Is the criticism that he is insufficiently ideological?
You are exactly right. This type of argument is called "ad hominem" (translation, appropriately, is "to the man"), and is the basis of many fallacies and Republican/Democrat debates.
One should respond to arguments Thiel is actually making, if he is making an argument at all. He thinks it’s an interesting idea. If it turns out to be stupid, great.
Nobody does things “for ideology”. People do things they think are correct or useful or interesting, not for straw-man “ism”s. Is the criticism that he is insufficiently ideological?