Not to make excuses but anybody who has taxied a B747 in the dark on a relatively poorly lit airfield with it not possible to see your wingtips will have an appreciation of what is being discussed that is only possible to gain from actually experiencing it.
I did a similar thing as a first officer in Bogota, the captain had been momentarily distracted and I followed a taxiway not approved for the B747. Fortunately it was only short and although narrow there were no obstructions. Funny enough that was at night too! The only thing to be damaged was my pride but it did teach me a valuable lesson about the hazards of taxiing.