Input state is stuck HIGH when function called using input also uses same input to call another function

Question

I'm writing a choose-your-own-adventure style project for a class project. My Arduino Uno is set up with a 16-digit LCD display and two pushbuttons with pulldown resistors. I'm wanting each function to display text on the LCD and then take two user inputs, Yes or No, from the pushbuttons, and then call another function respective of which input is pressed. Each successive function will also take the two inputs to then call the next function in the series, and so on.

My issue is that after the first time a pushbutton is pressed, its state does not change. When question1() is called, and the user presses button1, question2 is called. However, the function runs and never waits for user input, and question4 is called right away because the state of button1 seemingly stays HIGH after the first time it is pressed.

What am I missing? Is there a better way to be gathering the user input? My pushbuttons are properly wired with the resistor pulling down to ground so my issue must be with my code.

Thanks in advance for any help.

void loop()
{
  question1();
}

void question1()
{ 
  button1State = digitalRead(9);
  button2State = digitalRead(8);
  if (q1 == false)
  {
    text1();
  }

  if (button1State == HIGH)
  {
    question2();
  }

  if (button2State == HIGH)
  {
    question3();
  }
}

void question2()
{ 
  button1State = digitalRead(9);
  button2State = digitalRead(8);
  if (q2 == false)
  {
    text2();
  }

  if (button1State == HIGH)
  {
    question4();
  }

  if (button2State == HIGH)
  {
    question5();
  }
}

Answer 1

There needs to be a delay() after the button state is read to allow time for it to return LOW, dumba**.

You already have enough delay() in your textN() functions, just check the button state after calling that function, not before. Code should be as follows:

void loop()
{
  question1();
}

void question1()
{ 
  if (q1 == false)
  {
    text1();
  }

  button1State = digitalRead(9);
  button2State = digitalRead(8);

  if (button1State == HIGH)
  {
    question2();
  }

  if (button2State == HIGH)
  {
    question3();
  }
}

void question2()
{ 
  if (q2 == false)
  {
    text2();
  }

  button1State = digitalRead(9);
  button2State = digitalRead(8);

  if (button1State == HIGH)
  {
    question4();
  }

  if (button2State == HIGH)
  {
    question5();
  }
}

This solves the issue completely.