I cannot imagine playing without using a safe word. Even when gagged and tied, Master Joseph would always put a red scarf in my hand so I could drop it if I was in trouble. I don't recall ever dropping the scarf but I did use the safe word a few times. As our relationship grew, so did his awareness of how I was reacting to what he was doing and he would stop before a safe word became necessary. He was all about pushing edges though ... and there were times when I did things that I never thought I would and let him do things to me that, looking back, I cannot believe I didn't use a safe word to stop him.