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While there are some good suggestions on this thread let me try to offer some advice to you as to "why" this isn't working for you.
First of all, you are not 'grounding the opener' by telling the group the reason 'why' you are asking them this. A lot of people forget to do this and it's very easily overlooked. This is a very important aspect to telling an indirect opener.
Let me give you an example of an opener I use...
MYSPACE OPENER
"Let me get a woman's opinion on something...I can only stay for a moment...(FTC) My good friend (Insert Girls Name) met a guy on myspace and they've been talking for a while, they seem to like each other. Do you think she should meet him?...(Cut her off) Before you answer...the reason I ask is because she is asking me for advice and I'm a little skeptical what to tell her, what do you think?"
Yes- "What if she ends up hurt, raped, abducted by aliens? I couldn't live with myself.
No- "What if she misses out on the love of her life because of me?"
Do you see how it differs from you asking a question. There is a story behind 'why' I'm asking thus creating a conversation around it. Secondly, I wrote this opener for myself based on a real situation. I can use this opener very well because it happened to my friend, and I know where I can take it.
Without the 'why' behind it you start getting yes and no responses. You know she's going to say yes or no so have something ready to that. Know where you're going to go with it. Be prepared.
Writing your own material is something that you can start working towards. Your material that you right as long as it is interesting to women, not too long, not creepy, and has a reason 'why' behind it should work fine.
Please consider 'grounding' your opener, and also writing your own material as well so you can then stack on whatever stories you want. I'll typically stack on an adventure this friend and I had then go from there.
This is a great answer, could not have put it any better.