Попробуйте это:
SELECT s_id, s_title, log10(Z) + (Y * s_timediff)/45000 AS redditfunction
FROM (
SELECT stories.s_id, stories.s_title, stories.s_time,
stories.s_time - now() AS s_timediff,
count(s_ups.s_id) - count(s_downs.s_id) as X,
if(X>0,1,if(x<0,-1,0)) as Y,
if(abs(x)>=1,abs(x),1) as Z
FROM stories
LEFT JOIN s_ups ON stories.q_id=s_ups.s_id
LEFT JOIN s_downs ON stories.s_id=s_downs.s_id
GROUP BY stories.s_id
) as derived_table1
Возможно, вам придется проверить этот оператор, если он работает с вашими наборами данных.