Is there any way to cut myself off from my past; sort of do a Don Draper? I’d like to cancel my membership (or let it lapse) and register under a new name with no link to my past posts.
Can that be done…or do I have to go to one of the other boards?
Is this Plan C?
You can’t really do that; what you can do is act differently.
If you don’t wish to have your reputation follow you around, then act differently. It may not be easy; it may not be quick; if you can ignore the catcalls and be patient, it can be done.
Posters change their reputation around here all the time, both for good and ill.
Good luck!
It can be done, Plan B — restoring your reputation, I mean. I’ve had a lot of positive feedback both in posts and in PMs the last few weeks after years of dramatic flip-outs and meltdowns. I’ve had some flak too, but overall, people are forgiving. Most of us just want to get along.
Frank gave you some very good advice. Follow it.
You can change your user name, you can let your subscription last, but you can’t create a second account.
What happens if you let your subscription first?
The rule is one account per person, so it doesn’t matter if his subscription expires or not: he still can’t start a new one. I meant to say “lapse” in my previous post because he can do that if he likes, but all that would happen is he would be a guest.
That’s okay, Musicat meant to say “fist”. 
Frank has summarized it pretty well. Letting membership lapse won’t matter, you’re still you. You can change your name, but the system automatically changes all your past posts as well, so that doesn’t allow you to re-write history. The best approach is to change your behavior, and over time, that will have it’s impact.
If there is some extenuating circumstance (e.g., you’re being stalked by an ex-spouse, say) causing you to truly want a whole new identiy, email TubaDiva or me and the admins will discuss behind the scenes. It has been done, but it’s an exception in an unusual or very difficult situation.
My advice is to not worry about what a bunch of anonymous strangers on a message board thing about you.
I agree. It is better that the strangers thing about you than having them try to thing in you.
I thing you’re mistagen.
Are you thinging the same thing I’m thinging?
Are you beginning to see why it doesn’t matter so much? You can’t keep these guys on track for more than about thirty sec… Ooh, shiny!
Seriously, just try again, and don’t worry about the past. It will sort itself out if you act differently now. For all the screaming and yelling that goes on sometimes, this can be a pretty forgiving bunch, if you let them.