# Unlisted topic showing as linked topic

**URL:** <https://meta.discourse.org/t/unlisted-topic-showing-as-linked-topic/232538>\
**Category:** UX\
**Tags:** unlisting\
**Created:** [July 11, 2022, 5:45pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/unlisted-topic-showing-as-linked-topic/232538 "2022-07-11T17:45:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 7

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**Author:** ![Jonathan5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/jonathan5/32/197134_2.png) [@Jonathan5](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Jonathan5)\
**Post date:** [July 12, 2022, 6:17am UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/unlisted-topic-showing-as-linked-topic/232538/7 "2022-07-12T06:17:36Z")

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> [@maiki](#):
>
> why not just delete it?

It just seems to be how Discourse works.

If you move the post from a one-post topic to another topic, Discourse doesn’t immediately delete the one-post topic. Instead, it closes it and sets it to be deleted within seven days. During that period the post in question appears on the forum twice: once in the soon-to-be-deleted one-post topic, and once where you really want it to be. It adds a note that the post has been merged, and a link to the other topic (this is what causes the back link).

I unlisted the one-post topic (instead of deleting it) so as not to interfere with Discourse’s normal operation. I wasn’t sure why it hadn’t been deleted, or what unintended consequence there might be if I were to delete it.

Do you know why Discourse does what it does? That would help me answer your question.

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