Children are often not given the benefit of the doubt. Things aren't explained to them, and they're lied to. Much of the time parents don't even do what's best, but instead whatever they prefer. The child may actually be fine with what a parent wants. But rather than give the child the knowledge and tools to make their own decisions and come to their own conclusions, the parent forces their child to become subservient, removing their ability to be a free human being, making their own mistakes, achieving their own goals. Children often grow up stunted by years of biased information, and the inner working of the minds of others who have grown up in the same system.
Paternalism is wrong because it's wrong to think you know what's good for others. You may know what's good for you. And you may have some experience that tells you some potential consequences of specific actions. But by pushing your own desires and limited knowledge on a child, and not permitting experimentation, growth, or making one's own mistakes, the child does not really grow. They just become a poor copy of the parent, and just as limited. Later they internalize all this and try to justify it by doing the same thing to others or their own children. But it's just a coping mechanism for the trauma they experienced as a small human with no rights.
If you actually respect your co-workers, do not treat them like children. Do not condescend. Do not limit them. And do not prevent them from making simple mistakes. Give them information, teach them, sure. But only if they want to be taught. Not because you think you have some special right to tell people what to do, or force people into situations they didn't consent to.
As a senior myself, I am happy to share information and help people learn and grow. But I would never tell a junior what to do, or lecture them, or prevent them from making mistakes. Everyone deserves to come into their experience in their own way, and be an equal member of the team.
