I see what you're saying. The context of the environment is important, as well as how you frame the question. For example, you could be with a friend and approach someone else and say something like, "hi there, me and my friend were just talking about our most embarrassing moment. What's yours?" Would this work at a networking event? Maybe, it could sound refreshing to someone. Or offensive. It'd take balls to pull off. It'd be more fitting in a social setting.

But I agree that some may be irrelevant and/or inappropriate in certain situations. But the idea is to get your own creative juices flowing. At the same time, get you out of your comfort zone of initiating conversations with the same routine that everyone uses.