Newcomer introduction threads don’t work well.
They’re long, boring, few people read them, and usually encourage people not to participate (it’s tough to talk about ourselves). There is little correlation between the people that introduce themselves and become regulars, and those that don’t.
The first discussions you want members to participate in is either an opinion-based discussion, i.e. do you think that …. ? or an experienced-based question i.e. what did you do in {x situation}.
These discussions encourage members to invest their ego in the community. These increase the propensity of newcomers to visit the community to see the responses to their opinions/experiences.