Ah, I see. This is the problem with not quoting the question you're answering. And answering a question I thought you already answered.

Safewords are meant to be used as an emergency signal, not some method of turning your Dominant into your service top. Their point is to let your partner(s) know something has gone terribly wrong. I don't let my scenes go to that point, so if they were used it would have to be something imperceptible to me. (This has never happened, by the way.) Otherwise, I stop before a safeword is needed.

Have you actually been whipped before?