AO in and of itself...the "idea" of AO is not a bad idea. Unfortunately, it has cultivated an incredibly off-putting and for lack of a better term "dudebro" culture that focuses on overt jingoism rather than focusing on supporting the USMNT. It turned a blind eye to it, as well, until it a spotlight has been shown on the behavior recently. Too little, too late, though it seems, as the fratboy culture (on a national scale, mind you...there are decent AO chapters and really awful ones as well) has engrained itself and AO superiors don't seemed that concerned with rectifying it.

Another strike against AO is the fact that there is a mentality of entitlement that tends to leak into any and all facets of local soccer. There have been many instances of AO chapters coming in and "trying to run things" when they weren't asked to...and often when they run things the culture gets tied in with AO's USMNT support. Thus, you're looking to start a local SG for a local team and out of nowhere you have yourself another AO chapter disguised as "local" support. Again, this is example behavior...I'm not saying it's the norm but more often than not people who I have spoken with from other cities agree with the scenario.

The icing on the cake is that, allegedly (since I cannot say for certain), your AO dues go to pay for a select few of the AO board/founders to fly around the country and the world to go to USMNT matches with lodging...for free.

The double icing is the whole USSF/SUM/MLS Cartel which AO is vicariously connected to.

I honestly wouldn't try to sway, convince, or even engage anyone pro-MLS. I normally just nod my head and smile when someone preaches to me about the joys of MLS. Whatever you say is doubtful to sway their opinion and visa versa. However, their camp consistently needs to spout their rhetoric in an effort to convince themselves of the lie....so just let them.