The MLM model is primarily focused on recruiting to create ongoing internal consumption - recruit, sell, get your client to become your competition by recruiting them to become a business partner etc...

The negativity from my perspective is that MLM that are presented focus on their energy on promoting lifestyle and often the promotion is false. For example, someone from Amway came to meet with me and kept talking about how he was retired at 25, his wife was retired and they lived this great lifestyle but they could not answer simple questions about what they do or how their business compensated them.

I have the same problem when people from WFG meet with me and they talk about residual income and trips and how they are going to be retired in 5 years, but many of them spend their time and money attending events that don't improve their business acument or their skills for their industry. 

The message from many MLM has been: recruit, sell, buy products to get your promotion, sell and pressure your friends and family and if they don't join your business, shame and ridicule them for not being entrepreneurs.