it was a taboo, in all the writings of these degenerate acts the historians (Suetonius, Livy, etc.) always ridiculed them and called them "deprave, disgusting, gross, etc.." just because the emperor was accused of it doesn't mean it was accepted socially hell it doesn't even mean it actually happened.
Yea traditionally Rome was absolutely anti all degeneracy, in the Republican days particularly. A lot of that fell apart pretty quickly after Octavian died, good times weak men kind of thing. I bet that rise in degeneracy helped spread Christianity, a bunch of people grossed out by the direction of society wanting to reject it in favor of honor and piety for a huge payoff after death. That would look pretty attractive to someone with not a lot of upward mobility that was basically forced to worship a guy like Nero.
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