Some small part of that was that GitS influenced part of internet culture, the "Deaf Mute" was a stable of 4chan while 4chan captured the some of the spirit of the laughing man.
true, part of the reason I like chat chat chat episode. it feels like a modern forum/chat room. similar discussion, dissecting blurry photos, familiar characters , etc.
But the content of the discussion in chat chat chat was more reminiscent of the operations in 4chan that came in recent years, the author had a good grasp of that cliche of humans.
yeah sometimes forget how old the series is
Easy to forget as it is unlike anything else that came out at that time and that it feels more modern than much of what comes out today, the intro (CGI/Music) is the main reminder.
Also had an intelligence agent planted in the middle (Major) pretending to be part of the speculators, VR chat rooms are a thing now, but it is mostly VR anime girls goofing around.
