Talking points among experts on synthetic biology usually mention the perils and promises of "biohacking." The dream of synthetic biology, after all, is to make biology "easy to engineer." Do-it-yourself biologists with ready access to materials and know-how. Do talking points offer more than the communication of concern and assurances of responsibility? What of truthful and frank speech about dangers and our capacities and incapacities? Between the reassurance of advocates and the doomsday of detractors there is much to be said.