An HVAC controller may be controlled in response to a natural language message that is not recognizable by the HVAC controller as a command, where the natural language message is translated into a command recognizable by the HVAC controller. Voice recognition software may be used to create a natural language text based message from a recorded voice message, where the natural language text based message is translated into the command recognizable by the HVAC controller. In response to the command, the HVAC controller may perform an action and/or respond with a natural language text based message. Where the HVAC controller responds to the natural language text based message, the HVAC controller may send a natural language text based message back to the user. In some cases, a user may communicate with the thermostat via an on-line social network.