Is it okay to yell at my baby?

baby is a year old and if she's beeing difficult or loud or crying a lot I yell at her to shut up or I'll spank her and knock her into next week. obviously i wouldn't do that, but some of my neighbors have come over and told me that they have heard me yelling at my baby and they feel I shouy;ldn't do that. shouldn't they mind their business and let me raise my kid my own way