When Tinderbox needs to choose a map position for a note (e.g. in an outline when the note is created, or dragged into a new container), it is careful to avoid colliding with existing notes. Notes created outside Map view view are automatically assigned plausible map positions.
In earlier versions of Tinderbox, the app would sometimes give up the search for a plausible position and place all new notes at {0,0}. This should no longer occur but the issue may be seen in old TBX files created using older versions of Tinderbox.
[Ctrl]+[Opt]+Return (^⌥-Return) creates a note below the selected note. Return creates a note to the right of the selected note, and [Ctrl]+Return (^-Return) creates a note to the left of the selected note. If there is already a note where Tinderbox would place the new note, Tinderbox seeks a suitable location.