What is 'a real project'? What is the (or at least your) definition of that term? Why is sharing code (as long as an OSS license is attached) not open source?

What is 'a real project'? What is the (or at least your) definition of that term? Why is sharing code (as long as an OSS license is attached) not open source? Under what circumstances am I allowed to call things I do open source, under what circumstances not?