Note: I write for TheButterRoom.com and the following column is from my latest contribution to TBR…

If you follow the Social Media and Technology industries, by now you have likely heard of BusinessWeek columnist Sarah Lacy. Even if you have not heard of her before, you may have seen or read something about her on the news in the last couple of days. On Friday, March 7, she interviewed Facebook Founder Mark Zuckerberg at South by Southwest Interactive (SXSWi) and the keynote address has been described by many as a “train wreck,” a “disaster” and an “out-and-out bomb,” among other, less critical adjectives.

Now, as with all things, there are two sides to this story and Lacy certainly has her supporters and you can read their side of the story here and here. Both links are to bloggers who readily support Lacy, but I think the point they are both missing is that whether it is right, wrong or indifferent, perception is reality and in today’s social media world, the perception among the target audience at this conference seems to be that Lacy did a poor job both interviewing Zuckerberg and handling the criticism.

The interview was lengthy, but you can get a feel for how quickly it went downhill by watching the first few minutes. For a more detailed recap of the hostile exchanges between Lacy and the audience, read CNET.com’s article by Daniel Terdiman. It makes me uncomfortable just reading about the confrontational nature of the interview.

Read more at TheButterRoom.com.