一篇发表在LiveJournal上的科幻短篇小说讲述了一件名为"低语耳环"的魔法物品的危险性 [1]。这件耳环能为佩戴者提供完全正确的建议 [1]，其首次建议通常是让佩戴者立即取下它 [1]。
故事中的主人公卡德米对耳环进行了检查 [1]。调查发现，长期佩戴这件耳环会导致严重的生理后果——解剖显示佩戴者的新皮层出现萎缩，而中脑和下脑则异常肥大 [1]。基于这一发现，卡德米建议将耳环永久封存在宝库深处 [1]。
小说中反复强调"耳环总是对的"和"耳环永远不会错" [1]，但其背后隐含的悖论在于：完全的理性指导最终会导致人类思维能力的退化。故事以一句富有哲理的独白作结："我们很愚蠢是件好事，否则我们仅有的自由也会被浪费掉" [1]。这部作品于2012年10月3日发布 [1]。
A science fiction short story published on LiveJournal tells of a magical artifact called the Whispering Earring, which offers its wearer perfectly accurate advice [1]. However, prolonged use of the earring causes the wearer's brain to atrophy, eventually reducing them to a reflexive animal state [1].
The earring's first recommendation to any wearer is always to remove it [1]. According to the narrative, "The earring is always right" and "The earring is never wrong" [1]. An autopsy of one wearer revealed cortical shrinkage alongside abnormal enlargement of the midbrain and lower brain structures [1].
Kadmi Rachumion, who examined the artifact at Til Iosophrang, recommended that the earring be permanently sealed away in the depths of a vault [1]. The story concludes with the reflection that "It is well that we are so foolish, or what little freedom we have would be wasted on us" [1].
The story was published on October 3, 2012 [1].