[Yeti]

In my father I observed mildness of temper, and unchangeable resolution in the things which he had determined after due deliberation; and no vainglory in those things which men call honours; and a love of labour and perseverance; and a readiness to listen to those who had anything to propose for the common weal; and undeviating firmness in giving to every man according to his deserts; and a knowledge derived from experience of the occasions for vigorous action and for remission. And I observed that he had overcome all passion for boys; ...

-- Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book I

Just regular folks, those latter Imperial Roman ruling class families.

[Burkeman1]

You seem fixated on the Emporers and their truly decadent lifestyles. We know about these rather torrid stories of total depravity because that is what survives and what most people were writing about. They were not writing about the regualr Pedestrian citizen in the street. But we do have every day records which paint a far more conservative picture of the average Roman Citizens life. Mr. Average Roman citizen was not having orgies with boys- far from it. He most likely wasn't even aware (much less cared) what the emperor did. There was no CNN and no printing press even.

Just as Bill Clinton is not a proper indicator of our nation's morality - by no means were the actions of the "God kings" of Rome that most of the Roman world would never hear about.