Well when I hear the word "gank" I tend to think of someone who is doing one of the following:

1) Camping Lowbie zones
2) Camping quest hubs
3) Bank NPC killers
4) The sort that waits until you are engaged w/ an NPC, specifically when resources are low.
5) specifically going out of their way to make life miserable for other players.

There is a big difference between this and your run-of-the-mill pvp. I was born and bred on a pvp server and I wouldn't change that. However, that does NOT preclude the possibility of NOT being as ass about it. I know I'll never win over my entire server but I will always advocate for self-imposed rules for honorable pvp. Yes, I said it. I'm deluded, clearly. ;-D

Now, I know that's not what "Gank" means directly but those who champion it tend to be the same sort that pull the childish stuff as well. The thread in question mentions the flags and other things designed to humiliate the fallen. That falls into the "punking" zone of pvp in my opinion, which is just one opinion. :)

The flags and such don't directly affect you at all: they don't make it harder for you to continue on your way after rezzing, they don't debuff you or anything, they're just a way of mocking someone. Mocking falls completely outside of whether it's ganking or not. It doesn't affect gameplay. The way you respond to it just depends one whether you have thick skin or let some faceless person on an online video game "humiliate you" or get you mad by getting under your skin.

I agree that all of the things you listed are bad to varying degrees, but I would contend that 4 is part of a pvp server. It's a rather silly view to think that people will (or should) wait until it's convenient for the person being attacked to fight them.

Well, again, I agree in part. The flag thing is a measure of skin-thickness BUT it's part of the tool-kit of these people who are very childish in their approach to pvp. If/when it happens to me, I'm just laughing because it says way more about the person doing it than my "death." The KIND of person who has these in their tool-kit just doesn't have my respect.

As for when to attack - sorry that defines what is a honorable altercation by my standards. Anyone can pick someone else off while they are fighting someone else. I don't care what class they are. So what is accomplished in that moment? Unless you are on a pvp-centered quest that I frankly, don't understand the point. If the point is to chest-thump then, again, they have my pity, rather than respect.

And notice, in no way am I talking about rogues specifically. I get that they have to stealth and hit from behind to be successful. Any classes can be asses. X-p

Yeah, I know, as I said. I know I'm deluded. XD