def rate_score(score, force_direction=0):
    """Scores rated by lower of distance to 7 or 27.
    Can force rating by comparison to 7 (pass negative) or 27 (pass positive)"""
    sevenscore = abs(7 - score)
    twentysevenscore = abs(27 - score)
    if force_direction < 0:
        return sevenscore, -1
    elif force_direction > 0:
        return twentysevenscore, 1
    else:
        return min(sevenscore, twentysevenscore), (sevenscore - twentysevenscore)