Why not leave %list as is ? 
sub random {
  my ($user_input, $list) = @_;
  
  if ($user_input =~ /(?:help|options)/) { 
     my $keys =  join ", ",keys %$list;
     return "Your options are: $keys, or all.";
  }
  elsif ($user_input eq 'dump') {
    use Data::Dumper;
    return Dumper($list);
  }
  else {
    my @values=();
    if ($user_input eq 'all'){
      @values = map { @$_ } values %$list;
    } else {
      @values = values @$list{$user_input};
    }
    return (shuffle @values)[0];
  }    
}

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poj

In reply to Re^3: I have a list expanding when I don't want it to by poj
in thread I have a list expanding when I don't want it to by Lady_Aleena

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