Okay, some words of advise...
First, I agree with you. There are a lot of selfish idiots out there that don't feel any qualms in giving really bad deals as long as they get what they want.
My first trade ever was shortly after I bought my first cards ever. I had an Ice Age Jester's Cap and some jerk convinced me that it was a good deal for me to trade it for a 4th Edition (I think) COP: Artifacts.
At the time, I didn't think anything about it because I didn't understand the game well enough yet to know just how bad a deal that was. But, in the end, I was able to reflect back on what happened and learned a couple of things.
First - as you've already realized. There are a lot of jerks in the world who aren't interested in a "good trade". In fact, I've seen way too many people bragging about how they ripped someone off. Personally, I feel that trading can and should be a win-win situation. Personally, I'm always happy to give someone what they consider more than I should as long as I feel like I am getting a good deal also. Anyone here played "Settlers of Catan"? If not, I recommend it and you will know what I'm talking about. It is almost always possible to come up with trades where everyone feels they got a good deal because commodities are valued differently by different people
Second - It is acceptable to walk away. I cannot emphasize this enough. In fact, I think it's so important that I'm not going to continue this paragraph, but I will continue with point three.
Third - Is is acceptable to walk away. Why do I emphasize this so much? Because I think most people, particularly younger people, feel that if they enter into a trade, they are obligated to find something to trade. I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me or I've seen it happen. Think about it. I bet it's happened to most of us - Some player says they really want some card that you have, either from your trade binder or that you got in a draft (Your Tarmogoyf, perhaps?). They hand you their trade binder and tell you to find something you are willing to trade for it.
You look through their binder, but don't really see anything you want, so you pull out a couple of rares that you sort of think you might want and make the trade. Why? Because you've already started looking through his binder. You've invested the time and feel like you are letting everyone down if you don't find something you want.
It's not worth it. Don't do it.
Also - try to avoid trading with jerks. Here's one that happened to me. I had some very good cards from judging and a guy who wants them. He offers me a certain dollar amount for the cards and we agree on something that I feel is fair. I knew that I could have gotten more from the cards if I had posted on eBay or something, but the time and effort involved has never interested me. Anyway, he turns around and resells them right in front of me for a bit of a profit.
Now, I really didn't care that he earned a profit, but the fact that he would do it right there while I was still in the room was a bit upsetting. I vowed then and there never to trade with him again and I've never gone back on that. However, I've given equally good deals to other kids at the same store when he wanted the cards.
Point is - you need to learn to stand up for yourself and always make sure you are getting what you feel is a good deal. If you don't feel that way, just tell the guy that he doesn't have anything you want, even if 5 other people are telling you that he was making you a good deal. It can be the best red card in the world, but if you never play red...
