  We prove that, if Banach spaces $X$ and $Y$ are $\delta$-average rough, then
their direct sum with respect to an absolute norm $N$ is
$\delta/N(1,1)$-average rough. In particular, for octahedral $X$ and $Y$ and
for $p$ in $(1,\infty)$ the space $X\oplus_p Y$ is $2^{1-1/p}$-average rough,
which is in general optimal. Another consequence is that for any $\delta$ in
$(1,2]$ there is a Banach space which is exactly $\delta$-average rough. We
give a complete characterization when an absolute sum of two Banach spaces is
octahedral or has the strong diameter 2 property. However, among all of the
absolute sums, the diametral strong diameter 2 property is stable only for 1-
and $\infty$-sums.
