javascript - Using node.js to create IRC bot. Message sends twice despite function only being called once -

i'm using node.js create irc bot asks trivia questions. far works great, wanted implement system generates hints providing underscores each letter. time passes, fills in blanks. if nobody gets answer before blanks filled in, bot moves on. (if not in single-question mode)

the issue: if nobody answers question, bot moves on next 1 intended. bot supplies two hints @ same time. repeats first hint, other times it's satisfying else statement , providing next hint.

i have troubleshooted verify function gethint being called once.

i've been staring @ code 2.5 hours , i'm beginning lose hope. i'm brand new javascript, first time coding in it. appreciated.

example 1: satisfies if (there no hint) twice

bot> drummer beatles?

bot> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

bot> r _ _ g o s _ _ r

bot> r _ n g o s t r r

bot> oh man, nobody got answer! was: ringo starr

bot> president of united states?

bot> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ **

bot> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ** these 2 messages sent @ same time

example 2: satisfies if (there no hint) and corresponding else statement

bot> drummer beatles?

bot> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

bot> r _ _ g o s _ _ r

bot> r _ n g o s t r r

bot> oh man, nobody got answer! was: ringo starr

bot> president of united states?

bot> _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ **

bot> _ _ c _ o b _ _ _ ** these 2 messages sent @ same time

i've done troubleshooting follow bot's path. givehint() being called once.

function givehint() {     if (triviaactive) { //if trivia enabled             if (!ishint) { //if there's no hint              ishint = true;              triviahint = triviaanswer.replace(/ /g, '  ');             triviahint = triviahint.replace(/[a-za-z0-9]/g, '_ ');             modanswer = triviaanswer.replace(/[^a-za-z0-9]/g, '');             answerarray = modanswer.split('');             totalletters = math.round(answerarray.length / 2);              bot.say(to, triviahint);              givehintinterval = setinterval(givehint, 11000);          } else { //there hint              (var = 0; < totalletters - 1; i++) {                 giveletter = math.floor(math.random() * answerarray.length);                 characterreplace = answerarray[giveletter];                 answerarray.splice(giveletter, 1);                 triviahint = replacenthmatch(triviahint, "_", giveletter + 1, characterreplace);                 console.log("replacing " + giveletter + " underscore " + characterreplace);                  if (answerarray.length == 0) {                      = totalletters; //escape loop                     clearinterval(givehintinterval);                      if (!triviacont) { //if trivia 'single question' mode                          ishint = false;                         triviaactive = false;                         bot.say(to, "oh man, nobody got answer! was: " + color(triviafull, 6));                         triviaanswer = "";                      } else { //if trivia in 'continuous mode'                          ishint = false;                         triviaactive = false;                         bot.say(to, "oh man, nobody got answer! was: " + color(triviafull, 6));                         triviaanswer = "";                         dotrivia(); //ask new question                      }                 }             }              bot.say(to, triviahint);          }     } } 

dotrivia() - *this function finds random song database of songs , asks question it

function dotrivia() {     if (!triviarestricted) {          //new question, restart hint timer         if (givehintinterval) {             clearinterval(givehintinterval);         }          (var i=0;i!=1;i) {                 getrandomline('shuffle.txt');                 var shufflearray = shuffled.split(",");                 var submitter = shufflearray[0];                 var shufartist = shufflearray[1];                 var shuftitle = shufflearray[2];                 var shuflink = shufflearray[3];                  if (shufartist && shuftitle) {                     triviaactive = true; //trivia active                     i=1; // escape loop                     var max = 2;                     var min = 1;                     var trivrandom = math.floor(math.random()*(max-min+1)+min);                     ishint = false;                      if (trivrandom == 1) {                         triviaquestion = "who artist of "+color(shuftitle,12)+"?";                         bot.say(to,triviaquestion);                         triviaanswer = shufartist;                         triviafull = shufartist+" - "+shuftitle;                         givehint();                     } else {                         triviaquestion = "can name song "+color(shufartist,12)+"?";                         triviafull = shufartist+" - "+shuftitle;                         triviaanswer = shuftitle;                         bot.say(to, triviaquestion);                         givehint();                     }                 }         }     } else {bot.notice(from, "trivia disabled.");} } 

i have found answer question. in case curious, issue recursive function. givehint calling dotrivia calls givehint. thanks.