semantics

I agree with the above observations that these are crazy people. I believe that the expression loopy, predated the cereal brand "fruit loops." Boxers got loopy after they were punched in the head too many times, and people feel loopy after they've had too many drinks. Fruity is also an adjective to describe someone who is kind of odd, although lately it has become associated with homosexuality when used alone, e.g. "I think he's a fruit[case]."

Saying someone is a "fruit loop" combines the idea of being loopy and the older senses of being fruity/odd.

I also agree with the analyses above that wind-chimes represent a kind of simple-minded light-heartedness.

For example: "My aunts are lightweight creatures, their voices are high, floating. They laugh frequently, a tinkling sound like a wind chime, though they hide their open mouths with tiny hands as if embarrassed to be so amused." http://www.etext.org/Fiction/Paumanok/2.1/mccluskey.html

I leave it to the native Russian set to find the right combination of mildly pejorative terms to fit. But want to enter a word on how to form the term. I would omit group and go with a plural adjectival participle instead. It seems to me that Russian does that nicely to identify a group that is identifiable by whatever action is indicated.

That's my bit, Kirill. I hope it helps.


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Note added at 2003-05-19 22:30:22 (GMT)
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Let me amend that a bit. Considering the \"new age\" context, wind chimes are part of the overall tranquility that new agers try to achieve. Since this sounds like a negative external critique of such people, the idea of empty sounds (and therefore empty heads) also comes across. You may need to literally translate \"wind chimes\" and footnote it for a Russian readership if this manifestation of the new age movement is absent in Russia.

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Note added at 2003-05-20 16:48:36 (GMT)
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Let\'s think about this a different way: think about the странники in Russian experience. Are these странники нъю-эйджа? Something along that line may prove fruitful (not fruity :-).