The Website

Roller Coaster Philosophy was originally created in May of 2009, although it didn’t really all ‘come together’ from the basic WordPress design until later that summer. Ideas for the site started a year earlier in 2008 when I was writing lengthy park reports for the now-defunct CoasterSims.com and decided I ought to get my own platform to share my work with. Some of those old reports from that site can now be found here, most notably my lengthy review of the also now-defunct Hard Rock Park.

“Roller Coaster Philosophy” refers to a couple different things. Most importantly, it refers to the much more analytical approach I take towards reviewing coasters and parks that tries to get at the deeper underlying principles of what makes a ride work or not. A lot of my reviews might be contrary to popular opinion, either for rides usually well-praised or usually ill-liked. If you think I’m wrong about one of my claims, please comment in the article detailing why that it so; the dialectical method has suited real philosophers well for years, and I see no reason why it can’t be translated to the roller coaster enthusiast realm. “Roller Coaster Philosophy” also refers to the occasions when I’ll discuss philosophical issues in relation to parks and roller coasters; often this is intended to be taken somewhat humorously. My basic goal with this project was to create the in-depth, critical coaster and amusement park review website I always wanted to read but could never find the web address for.

The screaming face on the top of the page is the 21st Century Schizoid Man from King Crimson’s debut album In the Court of the Crimson King. I always looked at that art and visualized him riding a roller coaster. However the expression does not show a scream in response to the physical adrenaline rush, but from a fear which resonates from within, which I think is representative of how I respond to a really good coaster ride.

These pages are formatted using Firefox on a screen resolution greater than 1024 px wide. The pictures are simply embedded into the html and different webbrowsers/resolutions can throw off the formatting of some pages, although based on my testing they should display as intended for both Firefox and Internet Explorer users. It is created using WordPress and uses the theme Atahualpa by BytesForAll.

The Author

My name is Jeremy Thompson. I am from northern Michigan, and I attend Michigan State University where I’m dual majoring in general business management and philosophy. Currently I have been on 414 different roller coasters at 90 parks between 11 countries. My home parks are Michigan’s Adventure and Cedar Point, which I have visited every year since 1994 and 1995, respectively. I am also an avid cinema-goer, having seen over 1000 movies and counting everyday. This site also hosts some movie reviews. I enjoy listening to progressive rock and related forms including symphonic rock, jazz fusion, experimental/avant-rock and post-rock.

My goal is to eventually visit, photograph and report on every notable amusement and theme park in the United States and Canada as well as many overseas. Long term goals include being part of the amusement industry, which if it’s not clear from my writings I believe needs a lot of change and improvement in order to get past their own self-assigned image of merely being disposable tourist entertainment.

List of coasters I’ve been on / Map of parks I’ve been to / List of movies I’ve seen / Flickr / Contact

All photos on this site were taken by myself or occasionally a family member unless otherwise stated.