No father figure, that's why

I'm just stating a fact my dude.  OP asked "why are they attacking my ship?".  The answer is, "Well, it's a combat zone.  Being attacked is possible.  All servers aside from Season and Olvia are PvX servers, even Arsha is PvX.  So, some people will do it."

Open world flagging is discouraged, being attacked is rare compared to not.  It's still possible, though, so players need to be prepared.  Keeps the game exciting, IMO.  Maybe we need harsher penalties for this.  Maybe we need a functional Bounty System.  Maybe other things - heck, maybe even a dedicated no-flagging Lifeskill Server.  But I have a feeling where this is heading and I can already hear the vocal minority crying for full PvE servers.  And with that -- May I remind you the many instances where the devs said this is not how the game is intended to be played (fully)?  I got quotes with links if you want them.

Also, this pic is from Google Images.  I'm at work atm.

Ya good lucking killing this bot. Open world PVP doesn't stop botting having moderators that actually care do.

Players PK other players for various reasons. I imagine berterers on autopath are attacked for the same reasons as autopathing riders are either at least knocked off their horses, if not outright killed. Some people just detest anything done afk instead of actively playing. Some do it for fun, some for the salt. Some have started attacking Carracks with ship kits to protest against the perceived whaling and the pricing of those kits.

I have to say though that it has gone down a lot over the past years, at least on EU. I still get knocked off my horse occasionally, but I haven't had anyone attack my ships anymore ever since the current karma rules were introduced. No one has yet actually sunk any of my ships, as I never play really afk. Carracks last long enough for a server switch, problem solved.