What's the deal?

One day when I was going through basic training in the army we were having an inspection in the barracks, the Sergeant Major himself was our inspector.
During the inspection he stopped in front of me and requested my weapon. (M-16 service rifle). I handed it to him and he asked if I had cleaned the weapon. I stated that I had. He asked if I had any "Q-tips". since I did (and since they were a standard part of our toiletries so he also knew I had) I said yes I did.
He asked for one and when I provided him with the "Q-tip" he swabbed inside the trigger mechanism and managed to get about 5 grains of dust in a corner I had not been able to access. He showed this too me and gave me a helpful, friendly suggestion on an easier way to clean that part.

After he left the rest of my Squad bay came down on me like a ton of bricks.
"Why didn't you lie to him and tell him you didn't have any "Q-tips"?"
"Why did you help him to get you in trouble?"
"Dude you are an idiot."
were a sampling of the questions I faced.
My response was, "why are you worried about it?" no one got in trouble, all of us passed the inspection, there was no reason for the fuss.
If anyone was going to suffer for the attention it would have been me and me alone.
However had I lied and said I did not have that Q-Tip then either he would have found out about that lie, or I would have been in trouble for not having an item I was supposed to have.

And EITHER of those scenarios could have put all of us in the dog house.
So I have to wonder what is the deal with our society? when we are so ready to compromise our selves for a potential gain that is really only perceived?
And why do we feel we have to dump on people who have the courage to be truthful and honest? Even when we are not affected? That is my question.